THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL AND UPSON'S CHIEF APPRAISER

Tuesday's meeting of the Thomaston Mayor and Council with a presentation from Upson county's chief appraiser Charles McKeehan is not getting high marks from attendees. City officials wanted information about the process of determining property values but most of the dialogue between the City Manager, Mayor and Council and McKeehan was a bit pointed--especially involving commercial property assessments, city hall thought low. McKeehan made it clear he always wants assessments to be as low as possible. It’s a complicated process, as the Assessor’s Griffin Attorney Stephanie Windham told council and stated the board must follow state guidelines.

The Tax Assessors board hires the chief appraiser, an independent body from the county commissioners, although the Boc does fund the department. One county commissioner 101 news spoke with frowned on the city meeting with the chief appraiser. It’s the first time in memory a government body has called on the chief appraiser to answer questions, but councilman Ryan Tucker told McKeehan constituents want answers about their tax bills.