Dillard asks for extension on tax rolls

The tax assessors office may need more time to finish the tax rolls because several appraisers are sick.

Juanita Dillard, tax assessor, requested a 30-day extension in case she cannot get the preliminary rolls open by the first Monday in July. She also said she may need to hire parttime assessors in order to file the preliminary rolls on time. She said the preliminary rolls cannot be filed later than 30 days, if the extension is granted.

The final tax rolls are open to the public for viewing and appeal of assessments by the first Monday in August, she said. The final roll is due by the first Monday in September.

The Marshall County Board of Supervisors discussed the situation with Dillard at the June 6 board meeting. Their concern is that they have the final assessments in time to prepare the new fiscal year budget that comes due September 15.

“Taxpayers can appeal within 30 days after the rolls are open (for public view),” Dillard said.

District 1 supervisor Charles Terry asked for a motion to extend the deadline for opening the rolls from the first Monday in July to the first Monday in August.

The motion passed 3-2 with District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor and District 5 supervisor Ronnie Joe Bennett opposing the extension.

Terry said he did not see why a 30day extension would affect citizens having time to appeal their tax assessment.

Dillard said the summer conference is set for the week of July 10-14.

Taylor said if the deadline is extended the board has to have Dillard’s figures before the board can complete its budget.

“The worst is over,” Dillard said. “We reappraised last year, so it won’t be a great difference (in assessments) this year. We have weathered the storm.”

She said her office hasn’t enough space to put more help.

“We’re not talking about hiring,” Terry said. “You need assistance by the first of July.”

Taylor said in the past the board would hire a contractor to help with the assessments.

“So, we’re between a rock and a hard place,” Terry said.

He said assistance would be needed to get the tax rolls ready by July 1.

“What process do we use to contract with somebody?” Terry asked.

Dillard said if the health issues in her office continue to worsen she will need extra help.

“You got your wish. We have way more growth,” she said. Terry asked if there was anything the board needed to move on to help the tax assessor be on time.

Terry asked if there was anything the board needed to move on to help the tax assessor be on time.

Taylor was concerned about the tight squeeze it would put on getting the budget together on time.

He said the board gets blamed for the taxes going up every year.

“What Ms. Dillard is saying is people are complaining about the tax going up last year,” Terry said.

(The county was delayed in its annual 4-year assessment to a fifth year in 2021 due to COVID and other circumstances.)

“We have always contracted,” Terry said. “Even with another person (appraiser) or two, we’ve got it in the appraisal system.”

Bennett asked Dillard why she had not brought her request for extra office help in sooner.

“Most contractors work from trucks,” District 4 supervisor George Zinn III said, meaning there would be no need for extra office space for part-time assessors.

“What they have gathered in the field has to be brought into the office,” Dillard said.

Dillard said she has not hired any additional help to complete the appraisal as of yet.

Engineer’s report

County engineer Larry Britt updated the board on active projects.

Work on the repair of Tippah River bridge will be postponed until AT&T puts down an new line under the north side of the bridge, then take down the old line attached to the bridge. He said the county would be responsible if communication was disrupted by the project.

He said the county is not taking on a big responsibility because the new line will be laid before the old line is disabled.

“We were told from the beginning that it (the line) was dead, but it is not,” he said.

Britt asked for a 6 month extension of paving on the extension on Wingo Road.

Some asphalt will be left over, perhaps as much as 250 tons, he said. He said he would ask to see if the asphalt could be applied back toward Barringer Road from the I-269 intersection on Wingo Road.

“I don’t want to send the money back,” he said.

The board approved using the asphalt for paving Wingo back toward Barringer if the state approves.

Taylor asked if cost of materials are still going up.

Britt agreed.

Taylor complained about some bumps in the road repair even though it looks good.

Britt said the problem is west of Mt. Carmel Road where cracks appeared because a joint buckled.

“The joints aren’t great, but we are going to fix them,” Britt said.