County's real property appraisal issue unsettled

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Nov. 12, 2003
At least two Lauderdale County supervisors are getting lots of questions from their constituents about the future of real property appraisals done by the county tax assessor's office.
District 3 Supervisor Craig Hitt, president of the board, and District 2 Supervisor Jimmie Smith said they are constantly being asked about the real property appraisal issue.
In October, supervisors rejected Lauderdale County Tax Assessor Jimmy Slay's recommendation that the work be contracted out, just as personal property appraisals have been done in the county for several years.
There were two certified real property appraisers working in the tax assessor's office earlier this year. After the August primary, in which Slay won a second term in office, he said one appraiser quit and he fired the other.
Supervisors passed a recommendation that Slay hire two people to take the place of the appraisers who no longer work in his office. Hitt, Smith and District 5 Supervisor Ray Boswell said county residents need to have someone in the office with whom they can discuss their tax appraisals.
No response from Slay
On Tuesday, Hitt said the board has had no response from Slay.
Slay, who was out of state visiting his daughter the week supervisors made their decision, said he did not have an immediate plan for feedback to the board of supervisors and there was no request for him to respond to the board.
Smith said Slay only has one option, and that is to hire people because the tax assessor cannot enter into a contract without approval from the board of supervisors.
Defending his recommendation
Slay maintains his recommendation was a viable option. He asked the board to approve a contract with Sanders and Associates Appraisal Services in Aberdeen at a cost of $73,500 per tax year. He said the fee would save the county at least $20,000 annually compared to the salaries of two appraisers.
Slay also said he gave the board of supervisors letters of recommendation from several tax assessors and tax collectors who have worked with the appraisal company he recommended. He said he also discussed his recommendation with other appraisers and the state tax commission.