Property notices going out

Chief assessor says Floyd’s tax base is about level with ’13

Floyd County’s 2014 property assessment notices are being sent out today.

Chief Assessor Danny Womack said approximately 47,000 notices would be in property owners’ mailboxes within the next couple of days.

The assessment notice will reflect the current property value and will also include an estimate of the upcoming property tax, which will be based on the 2013 millage rates. The general Floyd County maintenance and operation tax levy has not changed since 2008.

The chief appraiser was away from his desk Thursday and couldn’t give a specific estimate on the tax digest — the total value of taxable property in the county. But Womack said it’s very close to the 2013 value.

“Some areas are always going to see a decrease and some will see an increase,” he said.

The 2013 digest was set at $2.865 billion — a decline of 0.5 percent from 2012.

Womack said the assessments going out today are strictly notices, not bills, and property owners should not attempt to pay the estimated tax. Bills are sent out in the fall.

Meanwhile, property owners who feel their assessment is incorrect have 45 days to put together a formal written appeal. Challenges should be based solely on the value placed on the property.

The deadline to file an appeal is June 30.

Appeals should be directed to: Floyd County Board of Assessors, 4 Government Plaza, Suite 203, Rome, GA 30161-2803.

The appeal must include the map reference number from the assessment notice, an estimate of what the property owner feels the value should be, a brief reason for the appeal and a daytime phone number.

The Assessors’ Office is on the second floor of the Historic Courthouse, which faces the Law Enforcement Building on Fifth Avenue. For more information, call 706-291-5143.