Commissioners’ packet for the regular May 6, meeting was available on the county’s web-site for public review Thursday afternoon. A new pattern is settling into place which gives the commissioners and the public five full days to read and digest the Board meeting packet instead of basically a weekend. Posting the packet to the county’s web-site reduces labor and supply costs to produce the packet. Once the county manager, finance director, county attorney, and clerk of the board have county issued laptops I understand that only a single hard copy is necessary. (Note, you can also download the packed using the HiH link above.)
If you are planning to attend the commissioners meeting Monday night bring a padded cushion looks like a long meeting. The first topic on Monday’s agenda is the Board of Equalization. Maria Parham Medical Center is back to argue they should not pay the appraised taxes value (their fair share?) since becoming a FOR profit business. This brings me to a question I have after reading the county manager’s budget message released on Tuesday. How much if any of the $63,037,213 increase in the tax base is the result of Maria Parham’s change from NOT FOR profit to FOR profit.
Maria Parham has been before the Board at least twice claiming the appraisal is too high after converting from NOT FOR profit to FOR profit. Our county tax manager has successfully argued the appraised value for Maria Parham is based on state rules and the 2008 appraisal. At least there is information in the board packet one can read to understand Maria Parham’s logic for their request to lower the tax value by $12,075,841 or (19.66%). Unfortunately the other business and individuals have not provided such food for thought in advance.
Commissioners’ packet for the regular May 6, meeting was available on the county’s web-site for public review Thursday afternoon. A new pattern is settling into place which gives the commissioners and the public five full days to read and digest the Board meeting packet instead of basically a weekend. Posting the packet to the county’s web-site reduces labor and supply costs to produce the packet. Once the county manager, finance director, county attorney, and clerk of the board have county issued laptops I understand that only a single hard copy is necessary. (Note, you can also download the packed using the HiH link above.)
If you are planning to attend the commissioners meeting Monday night bring a padded cushion looks like a long meeting. The first topic on Monday’s agenda is the Board of Equalization. Maria Parham Medical Center is back to argue they should not pay the appraised taxes value (their fair share?) since becoming a FOR profit business. This brings me to a question I have after reading the county manager’s budget message released on Tuesday. How much if any of the $63,037,213 increase in the tax base is the result of Maria Parham’s change from NOT FOR profit to FOR profit.
Maria Parham has been before the Board at least twice claiming the appraisal is too high after converting from NOT FOR profit to FOR profit. Our county tax manager has successfully argued the appraised value for Maria Parham is based on state rules and the 2008 appraisal. At least there is information in the board packet one can read to understand Maria Parham’s logic for their request to lower the tax value by $12,075,841 or (19.66%). Unfortunately the other business and individuals have not provided such food for thought in advance.