Property tax assessment appeals due Monday

Monday is the deadline for Columbia County homeowners to appeal their property tax assessments.

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Appeals can be filed via e-mail, fax or letter, but they must include the resident's name, property I.D. or address, reason for the appeal, day and nighttime telephone numbers and an e-mail address.

To file an assessment appeal, e-mail assessor@columbiacountyga.gov or fax (706) 312-7476 by 5 p.m. Monday.

To send an appeal by mail, write to Columbia County Board of Assessors, Attention: Karyn Spratlin, P.O. Box 498, Evans, GA 30809. Mailed appeals must be postmarked by Sept. 28.

Tax assessment notices were mailed Aug. 14, about three months later than usual.

Assessment notices typically are sent during the second week of May.

The delay was caused by passage of House Bill 233, which imposes a moratorium on property assessment increases for the next three years.

The law does not freeze the value of properties that decrease in value.

Properties sold during the moratorium period are taxed at their moratorium value, unless improvements are made.

The county Tax Assessor's Office had to undergo an extensive software upgrade to reconcile the changes, and tax officials were unable to send out the notices by May.

Because of the delay, school officials might seek a loan of up to $20 million to keep the school system afloat while they await the tax revenues.

Property tax bills will be sent to property owners after the deadline and must be paid by Jan. 15.