Change Gonna Come...........

Well, the Citizens for Fair and Open Government has had another enlightening meeting last Wednesday evening over at the Bobcat den. Chairmen Michael Mull and Dale Sparks began with an updated report on their meeting with Tax Assessors board members Jeff Holloway accompanied by the ever-faithful Billy Masters.

Mr. Sparks opened the meeting by welcoming all present and thanking everybody for their continued support. Mr. Sparks said that as a matter of “doing the right thing”, that both he and Mr. Mull met with Mr. Jeff Holloway and Billy Masters in an effort to give them the opportunity “to correct the improprieties” that existed within the department over which they had control. “Before they continued forward with a petition for the removal of the Chairman, it was only prudent to give the board an opportunity to make a change” as Mr. Sparks related.

Mr. Sparks then shared in detail, the discussion that took place during their meeting with Mr. Holloway. Several items were discussed including how to improve the public image of the Tax Assessors’ department. Employee attitude became the focus of the discussion at that point according to Mr. Sparks, and he stated that Mr. Holloway seemed receptive to most suggestions.
Other issues that Mr. Sparks said were discussed with Mr. Holloway were the need to cut employee numbers in his office and the growing public outcry over the exhorbant salaries of the Chief Assessor and the Assessors’ assistant. Mr. Sparks said the he also pointed out to Mr. Holloway the fact that he hired an un-qualified person for the position of Chief Assessor in clear violation of GA code. Mr. Mull even showed Mr. Holloway the code book and section that was violated. According to Mr. Sparks, Mr. Holloway gave an evasive reply but promised to “look into the situation”.
Michael Mull was next to speak and went further into detailing the meeting with Mr. Holloway and Billy Masters. Mr. Mull related that assessment equality or “equalization” is imperative if we are to make all county property assessments fair. He went further to explain how that If one person is “favored” in a group and has their tax burden lowered, then the others must “pick up the slack” and pay for the reduction in the payment of the "favored few." As Mr. Mull related, “there are many favored developers, government officials, and other people of local influence” who have had their taxes un-fairly lowered at the expense of others.

Regarding their meeting with Mr. Holloway and Mr. Masters, both Mr. Sparks and Mr. Mull said that they left the meeting “cautiously optimistic” that their issues were received well by the representatives of the Tax Assessors Board, “but the next coming weeks would tell”.

The floor was then opened for questions and/or public comments. Several citizens spoke out about their experiences with the Tax Assessors’ office, but one in particular stood out. A young lady was outraged by the fact that she pays more property tax on her small five acre tract than a prominent local car dealer pays for his 20 acre estate with a large mansion that adjoins hers.
Yeah….. change gonna come…… oh yes it is……..