BY BILLY BRUCE
The Valdosta Daily Times
March 30, 2008 03:06 am
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Editor’s note: This is the last story in a series.
VALDOSTA — If Lowndes County voters want to return the current system of elected Board of Assessors back to the original system in which assessors are appointed by the Lowndes County Commission, a path through the Georgia Legislature must be followed, according to Deb Cox, Lowndes County Supervisor of Elections.
The Daily Times set in its editorial agenda for 2008 a desire to see the three-member Board of Assessors system changed from one that currently allows voters to choose the members in November elections every four years.
The Times’ editorial board contends that a switch back to the system in which BOA members are appointed by the County Commission is better for Lowndes because as appointed members, the assessors are required by Georgia law to complete mandatory annual 40-hour training courses from the Georgia Department of Revenue.
As elected assessors, the Lowndes BOA members are exempted by state law from taking the courses. Every county in Georgia has appointed assessors who are trained on the courses. Lowndes is the only county that has elected assessors.
Lowndes voters opted in 1972 to change to the current elected system. A referendum in 1996 failed to switch the system back to an appointed system.
Despite that 1996 decision, at least one key county elected leader believes the current system should at least be reviewed to determine if residents are getting the best bang for their buck (Lowndes assessors are paid $12,000 each per year to conduct their duties).
“Since the issue was decided by referendum in 1996, Lowndes County has experienced a tremendous amount of growth. The Commission is well aware of the concerns of citizens regarding re-evaluations and the method by which property is evaluated. A proper review of the process would be in order,” said Rod Casey, chairman of the Lowndes County Commission.
To go there again, one of two things must happen, according to Cox.
On their own, individually or collaboratively, a member or members of the local Legislative delegation (state senator or state representative) can propose a bill to amend the provision in the state constitution that allows Lowndes to have elected assessors. The bill would include language of the ballot question that would appear on the ballot that voters would see when they vote on the issue.
Or, a group or individual could petition a member of the local Legislative delegation to propose a bill to change the system through referendum.
Also, local officials who seek to gauge public opinion on the issue before asking a legislator to take a more permanent step can authorize a non-binding straw ballot poll in the form of a ballot question on an election ballot.
Piggybacking the referendum on a general election ballot would be cheaper for local taxpayers, but chances are slim that actions needed to get the issue on the Nov. 4 presidential ballot could be completed in time, though it’s not impossible, Cox said.
“Realistically, when we are directed to put the issue on the ballot, we make it happen,” Cox said.
A standalone election on the issue would cost taxpayers $65,000, she said.
More realistically, the issue could make a November 2009 ballot. If voters said yes to changing back to an appointed Board of Assessors, the system would not revert to the appointed system until 2012, when the elected Board of Assessors completed four-year terms.
All three Lowndes assessors are up for re-election this November. Whoever is elected, be it incumbents or potential challengers, the winners would serve out four-year terms to 2012 even if a 2009 referendum succeeded in switching the system back to appointed assessors.
The decision as to who served on the Board of Assessors then would fall into the hands of the elected County Commissioners. Appointees then would be required to complete state-mandated training requirements from the Georgia Department of Revenue.
For more information, contact the county elections office by e-mail at elections@lowndescounty.com, or by phone at 229-333-5100.
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