BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER fter more than a year of work, Haywood County’s property revaluation process is nearly complete and will be presented during a forthcoming public hearing. The largest single source of revenue for most local governments is property taxes. Those are generated by multiplying the tax rate, usually expressed in cents per $100 valuation, by the value of the property, which is set by the assessor’s office. Revenues rise and fall when commissioners raise or lower tax rates, or when property values rise or decline. It’s the revaluation process that determines the rise or decline in property values. In 2017, a similar revaluation produced disappointing results, suggesting that the region still hadn’t fully recovered from the real estate-based Great Recession of 2008. Property values were largely flat throughout the county and in each of its municipalities. That’s a problem for local governments because labor, materials and other nonfixed costs increase every year. If property values don’t keep pace, governments have little choice but to cut services or raise taxes. Back in February, Haywood County Commission Chairman Kevin Ensley told The Smoky Mountain News that he’d heard
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the county could be in line for big gains this time around — as much as 20 percent. Judy Hickman, Haywood County’s tax assessor, confirmed that on Oct. 20. “We’re generally looking at 20 to 25 percent increases in value,” Hickman said. That would leave local governments more leeway in crafting COVID-hobbled budgets for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2021. If property values do indeed rise, local governments will collect more money without having to raise the tax rate. They could elect to spend that money, or cut the tax rate to bring collections back down closer to the current level. Property owners won’t find out until a letter hits their mailboxes sometime between February and April what their specific valuations are. Jimmy Tanner, president of Tanner Valuation, told commissioners on Oct. 19 that the customary appeals period — during which property owners may dispute the values arising from the revaluation process — would feature an online dispute form, due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. The revaluation public hearing will be held 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, in the Haywood County Historic Courthouse. More information on the process is available at www.haywoodcountync.gov/709/2021schedule-of-values.
moving to draft a new ordinance that places the plan into action. He will coordinate the flow of agenda items with the Town’s
VOTE Tuesday Nov. 3 rd paid for by the candidate
Kevin got millions in broadband expansion money to WNC Kevin got millions in additional funding for our schools Kevin was a leader on the Covid Response Task Force for NC
EXPERIENCE THAT LISTENS! 5th Generation Jackson County Family Genuine Stewardship of the Environment and Community Being Proactive rather than Reactive with Growth Mark Jones for Jackson County Commissioner 828-743-9553 markjelect@yahoo.com
Jesse Fowler departments. We look forward to his leadership as the Town updates and improves many of its policies and practices” said Hites. Fowler replaces Amie Owens, who announced her resignation a couple of months ago to take a similar position in Virginia.
MARK JONES
Smoky Mountain News
Town Manager Robert Hites announced that he has appointed Jesse D. Fowler as Waynesville’s Assistant Town Manager. Fowler is currently serving as a Planner for the Town. Fowler has a background in town planning, Information Technology, CADD modeling software, and ArcGIS mapping software. He has a double major in Political Science and Philosophy and a Master’s in Public Administration from Western Carolina University. While in the Development Services Department, Fowler worked as a staff member with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Steering Committee, reviewed site plans, managed the department’s GIS data, worked with Code Enforcement, and presented policies to the Planning Board and Board of Aldermen. He assisted the manager’s office in maintaining the audio-visual equipment in the Board room and held citizen meetings on planning and recreational projects. He currently serves as vice president of Haywood Waterways Association. “The Town is fortunate to have retained an employee with IT and Development Services skills in a time when a number of hardware components need replacement. The Town has recently approved its fifteenyear Comprehensive Land use plan and is
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October 21-27, 2020
Waynesville hires new assistant manager
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Haywood property revaluation to be presented Nov. 2
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