Agenda - 09-02-2021; 8-a - Minutes

Browse Search

20 1 Nancy Freeman said with an extension, there would possibly be more commercial 2 appeals after the end of the contract with CCA, so those would have to be handled internally by 3 the tax office. 4 Commissioner Hamilton clarified that the company that does the appraisals for 5 commercial properties is only contracted through June 30, and after that date the tax staff would 6 have to handle the appeals. She asked if there is a reason why that would lead to unplanned 7 loss of values. 8 Nancy Freeman said the company does all the background work to show how to value 9 the commercial properties, and are in a better position to do the appeal. She said it is not that 10 staff cannot do it, but the company has the most information. 11 Commissioner Hamilton asked if the company provides the information the staff. 12 Nancy Freeman said yes. 13 Commissioner Fowler asked if staff is still seeing a large flow of appeals, and if those 14 requesting an extension are those who say they cannot get it in before June 30. 15 Chad Phillips, Deputy Tax Administrator, said there are 1,866 total appeals, including 16 308 commercial appeals. 17 Nancy Freeman said within that total, 1679 are informal and 185 formal appeals have 18 been submitted since the switch to formal. She said the peak of appeals was through the end of 19 April, and has decreased dramatically since that point. She said in the last week of May, there 20 were 100 appeals; in the end of May to the first week in June there were 39; and there were 48 21 last week. 22 Commissioner Fowler clarified the appeals have gone up slightly in June from the 23 graphic in the agenda packet. She asked if the number of calls received requesting an 24 extension beyond June 30 could be identified. 25 Nancy Freeman said she has not had any requests. 26 Chad Phillips said he has not received any. 27 Chair Price said the request for the extension came from her through organizations 28 working with residents in historically African American neighborhoods, with people needing 29 more time to understand what is happening and for community organizers to help people file 30 appeals. 31 Commissioner Greene said she spoke with director of the Jackson Center, and there is a 32 strong desire for the extension. She asked for Nancy Freeman to confirm the period for informal 33 appeals is over. 34 Nancy Freeman said yes. 35 Chair Price said EmPOWERment is also helping residents on this. 36 Commissioner Dorosin clarified that currently a resident can file appeal as late as June 37 30,2021. 38 Nancy Freeman said that is correct, through June 30th. 39 Commissioner Dorosin said the extension is really only about two months, until 40 September. He said it does not seem surprising that numbers are going up in June, as the 41 deadline approaches. He said it seems reasonable to extend it two months with a plan to 42 advertise it, and he is not concerned about commercial properties, etc. He said given the outcry 43 from the community, it seems like a reasonable accommodation. 44 Commissioner McKee said he supports the extension. He said he wants to know what 45 the County is doing to insure that the appeals process is pleasant and hospitable. He said 46 every time there is a revaluation, people have said the process is arduous and that the County 47 is defensive. 48 Nancy Freeman said there is an online form for appeals rather than the physical form. 49 She said there is an option for an appellant to ask for an onsite visit, ask an appraiser to contact 50 them, come into office, etc. She said her office has not set up workshops to help outside of the 51 tax office, but that can be done. She said appraisers speak to appellants to make sure the right