EQUALIZATION AND APPORTIONMENT COMMITTEE
MEMBERS PRESENT: Jim Moore, Chair; Don Cooper and Scott
Shackleton,
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Jim
German, Administrator, Earl Grandchamp, State Tax Commission district examiner, Kathy Jones, Appraiser,
Equalization Department, and Sharon Kennedy, Equalization Director
Agenda Item: Additions/Deletions to Agenda NONE MADE
Agenda Item: Approval of the Agenda
It was moved by Commissioner
Shackleton and seconded by Commissioner Cooper to approve the agenda as
presented.
Agenda Item: Public Comments NONE MADE
Agenda Item: Correspondence and Information Items NONE PRESENTED
Agenda Item: 2008 County Equalized Values.
Equalization Director Kennedy
presented the 2008 County Equalized Values.
The total 2008 Equalized Value for the county is $1,357,812,103 (see
page 1 of Equalization Report).
She explained that the values
presented on the report are the basis for completing the State required forms
which must be completed and sent to the State before the end of April. The
equalization process and the valuations presented were discussed in
detail.
It was moved by Commissioner
Cooper and seconded by Commissioner Shackleton
that the equalized values as presented by Equalization Director Kennedy
be adopted as reported and that all state required forms regarding same be
completed and filed as required by statute.
On a voice vote, the
motion was CARRIED.
Agenda Item: Tentative 2008 Taxable Values:
Equalization Director Kennedy
also presented the tentative 2008 taxable values and explained the capped value
formula as it relates to taxable values.
It was explained that the county’s projected tentative taxable value is
$976,255,018 which includes new construction and any uncapped transfers that
occurred in 2007. The final taxable
values for the county will be calculated in May, after preliminary State
equalization occurs and after all of the homestead information has been
provided by the local assessors. Once
those taxable values are finalized, all of the Headlee
calculations will be made by the director, and the county’s operating millage
will be determined.
It was moved by Commissioner
Shackleton and seconded by Commissioner Cooper that the tentative 2008 taxable
values be accepted into the record.
On a voice vote, the
motion was CARRIED.
Agenda Item: Continuing Education
Equalization Director Kennedy
explained that staff members will be attending annual required continuing
education classes in May and June, which may necessitate office closings to
accommodate staff attendance of these trainings. She explained that we are fortunate to have
the opportunity to attend these classes locally instead of traveling and
incurring larger expenses to attend the required classes. Every effort to reduce the time away from the
office will be made.
It was moved by Commissioner Cooper
and seconded by Commissioner Shackleton that at the discretion of the director,
the office may be closed to accommodate required training of department
personnel.
On a voice vote, the
motion was CARRIED.
The Commissioners and Chairman
Moore discussed the schedule for calculating final taxable values, Headlee fractions, millage rates, and processing Tax Rolls,
the steps necessary, together with annual appraisal studies, and the additional
work load placed on staff which will again this year necessitate an increase
from time to time of staff hours to 40 hour weeks. It was determined that this possibility has
been provided for in the current year’s budget and the director is authorized
to increase staff hours up to 40 hours per week as the work load demands.
Chairman Moore complimented the
Department on the presentations made.
The meeting was adjourned at
__________________________________
JAMES MOORE, Chairman,
Equalization
and
Apportionment Committee
__________________________________
Sharon H. Kennedy, Equalization
Director
Recorder