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