Commission says no to funds for personal property audits
Commissioner George Brown's request that up to $7300 be added to the budget of the Board of Assessors for personal property audits aimed at struggling small businesses went down in flames at tonight's county commission meeting. Brown sought the funding so tax assessors could visit some 13 local businesses and audit depreciable assets in person.
The dumbest answer was Jimmy Herns, wanting to postpone an audit because of the economy. Someone ought to explain to him what is right is right. Businesses have to pay taxes regardless of the economy.
Why shift the burden to the regular taxpayer?
Why should they be allowed to do that?
Perhaps that is why Hearn (the new Ray Brinkly) and Mathews don't want to make waves.
The lack of personal property assessments fall squarely on the Board of Assessors and the
Chief Appraiser.
The cause is simply this, the Board of Assessors and the Chief Appraiser are not doing what they are paid to do, ie, assess property both personal and real in Lamar County.
Rumor has it that one of the thirteen companies has not filed a return since 1994. If true, then the Board of Assessors and Chief Appraiser should be fired for cause.
If they were doing there jobs adequately, we would not have the CUVA exemption problems , personal property tax problems and firing the wrong employee problems and a damning report from the State Auditors.
The Board of Assessors and Chief Appraiser needs to be shown the door and we need to hire a Chief Appraiser who has NO repeat NO ties to Lamar County.
Accountability is required; however, the Board of Commissioners has shown very little interest in correcting the mistakes that have been made by the Board of Assessors and the Chief Appraiser.
Politics and "good ole boy" syndrome is alive and well in Lamar County.
I don't think it is the job or responsibility of the Chief Appraiser to look for businesses that don't file personal property tax returns.
Her job is assessing and setting values on real estate. Someone else is trained to audit business property and watch what they are doing, not Mayo.
The root of this problem does fall squarely on the shoulders of the board of assessors and whoever is supposed to be matching business licenses to tax returns.