The Gilmer County Board of Assessors voted to leave an over-age 65 homestead exemption unchanged for the current year when meeting briefly last Thursday.
Following extensive public comment from local property owners, the assessor board previously reversed a decision that excluded certain structures not attached to homes, such as garages and sheds, from the over-65 school tax exemption.
After receiving two differing state-level legal opinions on the matter, board members then decided to seek a final opinion from the state attorney general’s office before making any further changes to the exemption.
County attorney David Clark noted, at last week’s meeting, he has heard from the attorney general’s office, but they did not yet have a response.
With that, the exemption will remain as is with unattached structures still included, confirmed Chief Appraiser Theresa Gooch.
That decision will be reflected on this year’s assessment notices, which are expected to be mailed by mid-May, she added.
“We also anticipate the digest being submitted to the tax commissioner on time,” Gooch said.
Reopening planned
The assessors office, which has been closed to the public since late March, is planning to reopen to the public on May 1, Gooch said. Social distancing measures will continue there after reopening, she added.
Gooch gave an update on the office’s activity during the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis.
“The office staff was available to assist the public by phone or email. A table was placed outside the office door with all forms available for the public to pick up and place in the dropbox located outside of the courthouse or place them in the mail. This was done to help assist owners who were unable to print the forms sent via email or from the Department of Revenue website. Homestead applications for 2021 are still being accepted through the dropbox or mail while the office is closed to the public,” she noted.
The deadline for 2020 conservation use (CUVA) applications has been extended statewide until June 1, Gooch said.
“Owners still needing to file for conservation use should contact the assessors office for assistance,” she added.