Appeal Property Values, Mayor Says

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Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Tifton, Georgia

Your Local Digital Newspaper for Tifton and the Greater Tiftarea

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

Approximately 250 property owners were inside Saturday's town hall meeting on property assessments, and nearly as many were left outside as the room quickly reached capacity.

'APPEAL' YOUR PROPERTY REVALUATION, MAYOR SAYS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

"Appeal, appeal, appeal," upset Tift County property owners were told Saturday as hundreds of them descended on a city-called "town hall meeting" to get information about the county's updated property-value assessments.

"If you hear nothing else from this meeting: Appeal, appeal, appeal," said Tifton Mayor Julie B. Smith, as most residents have seen their property values increase significantly.

Property owners may appeal their new property valuations to the county Board of Assessors.

At Saturday's town hall meeting, there were were nearly as many citizens outside the meeting venue at the Tift Regional Events Center in the Tiftarea YMCA building as there were inside; the center has a capacity of 248 people, and entry was halted when the limit was hit. Inside, it was standing-room only when seats were filled.

The City of Tifton live-streamed the event on social media for those unable to get into the venue.

Mayor Smith told the crowd that she and city officials called the meeting because "it's important to provide information to my community."

Smith noted that the city had no role in the property revaluation; the county contracted with an outside appraisal firm to reassess the property after the state determined that Tift's assessments were no longer reflective of current fair market values. The county's last property revaluation was made in 2003.

Tift County Chief Tax Appraiser Hayward Becton attended Saturday's meeting and explained the process and reasons for the reassessments.

The revaluation was needed because the state requires counties to ensure that properties are valued uniformly and at fair market value. Property owners pay county taxes on 40% of the value of their property, and sales ratios are audited by the Georgia Department of Audits & Accounts.

Every county is to maintain a sales ratio between 36% and 44%. When a county’s ratio falls below 36% or increases above 44% that county must get its ratio back within the acceptable range, which usually results in a revaluation.

As property values have increased through the years, Tift County's ratios have been creeping lower to 36% and below. The state determined that Tift's last property revaluation was no longer reflective of current fair market values, and the county needed to get property appraisals closer to their current values.

All 19,350 property parcels in Tift County were revaluated during the past year.

"I have to follow Georgia law," Becton said.

When asked why a county property revaluation wasn't done for 20 years, Becton said the county did not fall outside of the sales ratio and out of compliance until recent years.

Mayor Smith reiterated that the property assessment notice recently mailed is not a tax bill.

"None of you will pay that amount; it's not a bill. There's no kind of secret agenda to raise taxes," the mayor said. "There's not an intent to make you pay more money."

She said governments cannot set the millage rate until all appeals are completed and the tax digest is set. Smith pledged that the city will be rolling back the millage rate to offset inflationary growth and help balance out any increase in property taxes.

"I can't guaranteee that it will be dollar for dollar, but we will be rolling that millage back," Smith said. She added that Tift County Commission Chairman Tony McBrayer "assured me the county will be rolling back their millage rate," too.

Several citizens at the meeting questioned why no county commissioners were present. The meeting was called by city officials and was technically an official city meeting. Members of Tifton City Council were in attendance. However, several people said that county elected officials also should have been there.

"I don't know where they are, but come Election Day, I do," said one citizen.

Capt. Phillip Sheffield and Deputy Barnes of the Ben Hill County Sheriff's Office stand with items seized Sunday from a residence on Plantation Road.

BEN HILL SHERIFF'S OFFICE SEIZES GUNS, DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A Ben Hill County man, already arrested on domestic violence and firearm charges, faces more than a dozen additional charges after multiple weapons and drug paraphernalia were seized from his home, authorities say.

According to the Ben Hill County Sheriff's Office, Michael Cameron Pope of Plantation Road faces multiple charges, including possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, use of a firearm during the commission of a crime, criminal destruction to property, making terroristic threats, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.

Pope had been arrested in regards to a "domestic incident," which led to the sheriff's office establishing probable cause for a warrant. The Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office executed the search warrant Sunday at the residence on Plantation Road.

"This office remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of our community. The exemplary work of these deputies highlights their dedication to protecting our county," the Sheriff's Office said on social media.

APARTMENT FIRE UNDER CONTROL QUICKLY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

A fire Tuesday morning at apartments across from the Tifton Mall on Virginia Avenue was confined to one room, according to the Tifton Fire Department.

The blaze was put under control quickly. One woman was said to suffer a small burn on her hand during the blaze, officials said.

Generations of former students of Shirley Frederick's Mother Goose Kindergarten gathered in 2020 with representatives of the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence to kick off the foundation's campaign to fund the Shirley Frederick Mother Goose Kindergarten Early Reading Chair. The chair has recently been fully funded. Frederick died Friday at age 94. The adults standing in back, from left, are: Jeanine Dorminey Webster, Mike Brumby, Shirley Frederick, Alice Kelley Johnson, Andrea Milton, and Moppy Brumby.

'MOTHER GOOSE READING CHAIR' TO CONTINUE LEGACY OF LATE TEACHER SHIRLEY FREDERICK

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

For generations, Shirley Frederick taught hundreds of young Tifton children, giving them a solid foundation in reading and math.

Her many students have gone on to be class presidents, valedictorians, STAR students, and successful business people. In 2018, a group of local graduating high school seniors, in their caps and gowns, even visited their former kindergarten teacher on graduation day to thank Frederick for her inspiration.

Her dedication to teaching Tifton’s youth, particularly focusing on early childhood reading, led the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence to launch a campaign in 2020 to raise the $25,000 needed to create the Shirley Frederick Mother Goose Kindergarten Early Reading Chair.

The good news is that the foundation Chair has now been fully funded; but with that came some sad news – Shirley "Mother Goose" Frederick died at home Friday at age 94.

"She just had a way with kids," said Nathan Johnson, recent president of the Foundation for Educational Excellence whose children had been among her students. "With this foundation Chair, her legacy is going to be continued in perpetuity."

The Chair created in her honor will be used to fund grants for early childhood reading projects in Tift County schools. The education foundation's 28 Chairs generate grants that allow local public-school teachers to “put their best ideas into practice."

"Mrs. Frederick leaves a lasting legacy and has impacted the lives of multiple generations in our community – sometimes in the same family," said Alice Kelley Johnson, a former student and a mother of students at Mother Goose Kindergarten.

"She always expected the best from her students and believed they could achieve anything. Her faith was evident in her classroom as countless five-year-olds memorized the 23rd Psalm. ... I will forever be grateful for her impact on our children."

Many other former students and parents of students had similar comments,

"She was amazing and taught my girls so much. I’m so happy to see a Chair was created in her honor," said Julie Pannell Gibbs of Tifton.

"Mrs. Frederick was a truly amazing lady and teacher. What a wonderful legacy she leaves behind with all the many children she loved and taught," said Janice Jaudon Dorminey.

During an interview with the Tifton Grapevine in 2020, Frederick, surrounded by children, noted, “I’ve taught some of their fathers and mothers – and, perhaps, even some grandparents."

She said she believed strongly in the phonetic approach to teaching reading. Her young students had been known to enjoy learning to read so much that they had given up their recess time in order to continue reading.

“I do individualized teaching,” Frederick said. “I take them where they are and help them grow."

Frederick continued teaching into her 90s and only stopped with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Memorial contributions to the Shirley Frederick Mother Goose Early Reading Chair endowment may be sent to the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence, P.O. Box 714, Tifton, GA 31793 (and note that it’s for the Shirley Frederick Chair).

Tift County Commission Chairman Tony McBrayer cuts the ribbon Friday for the county's new Pickleball Complex off Baldwin Drive along with other officials from the county and the City of Tifton, Tifton-Tift County Tourism Commission members, and Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce members.

TIFT COUNTY PICKLEBALL COMPLEX OFFICIALLY OPENS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Tift County Recreation Department's new Pickleball Complex was formally opened Friday with a ribbon cutting. Located off Baldwin Drive behind the recreation pool, the project was funded by Tift County and the Tifton-Tift County Tourism Commission.

Situated alongside a covered pavilion, bathrooms, and concession areas, the facility offers amenities and free daily public access for open play from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Pickleball Complex unofficially opened earlier this month for public play, and immediately the courts have been busy, attracting players of all ages.

Responding to the community's enthusiasm, the Recreation Department is now preparing to launch a Tift County Pickleball League. Scheduled to begin Aug. 8, the league aims to accommodate players of all skill levels with a particular focus on beginners.

Registration is open on pickleballbrackets.com for those interested in joining the fast-growing sport.

"We're thrilled by the overwhelming response to our pickleball courts. The league presents a fantastic opportunity for both newcomers and seasoned players to come together, enjoy friendly competition, and further enrich our community spirit," said Recreation Director Tim Petrea.

For more information, contact the Tift County Recreation Department via email: recreation@tiftcounty.org

EXCHANGE CLUB GIVES GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING CHILD ABUSE

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Exchange Club of Tifton on Monday presented grants to several community organizations that are on the front lines of fighting and preventing child abuse. The grants were made possible through the annual Bids for Kids Auction held in May.

A total of $12,000 was given to: Alliance for Children, Called to Care, Coastal Plain CASA, Kids Advocacy Coalition, Maggie Campbell’s Gingerbread House, Patticake House, Peanut Butter & Jesus, PLIGHT, South Georgia Ministries, The Kalos Academy, The Salvation Army, and the Tift County Commission on Children & Youth.

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

RIBBON CUTTING

Southern Bodies Fitness Center

604 W. Second St., Tifton

July 12

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Gizmo" is a cute kitten just waiting for a new home. Come visit Gizmo and see other pets available for adoption between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

'MODERN SHOPPING CENTER'

ANNOUNCED IN TIFTON

~ JULY 16, 1964

The construction of a "modern shopping center" at the intersection of Love Avenue and Eighth Street was announced July 16, 1964, by developers I. Perlis & Sons. Construction was to begin within 60 days.