Tax Commissioner Explains Senior Property Tax Questions Heading To November Ballot

Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton is providing additional information about property tax exemption questions voters will see on the November ballot, including proposed changes affecting homeowners who are at least 70 years old on January 1, 2027.

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Free Property Tax Class Set For Monday In Chattooga County

Chattooga County residents who have questions about their property assessments, appeals or tax bills will have an opportunity to hear directly from county officials during a free property tax class Monday, August 31.

The class, “Understanding Property Taxes in Chattooga County,” will begin at 6 PM at the Chattooga County Agricultural Center, 33 Middle School Road in Summerville.

The goal is to give residents a clearer understanding of how property taxes work at the local level, including assessments, appeals, exemptions, tax relief, tax bills and how the county millage rate is established.

Sole Commissioner Andy Allen will open the class with an overview of the property tax process and explain the roles of the different elected county officials involved. Allen will also discuss how the millage rate process works.

Chattooga County Tax Assessor Nancy Edgeman will explain the property tax appeal process and the duties of the Tax Assessor’s Office.

Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton will cover how taxpayers can understand and estimate their tax bills, the different layers of property tax relief available in 2026 and property tax exemptions.

The class comes at a particularly important time for local property owners, with many Chattooga County residents questioning their latest property assessments and filing appeals.

The program is Monday, August 31, at 6 PM at the Chattooga County Agricultural Center in Summerville.

Free Property Tax Appeal Forms Available Saturday In Downtown Summerville

Residents who still need to file a property tax appeal will have another opportunity to pick up a free appeal form Saturday morning in downtown Summerville.

Nancy Bishop says volunteers plan to be in front of the Chattooga County Commissioner’s Office near Jefferson’s Saturday morning and will remain there until at least noon, or until rain moves in.

Drivers are invited to slow down or stop to pick up a form, but organizers are asking everyone to be careful and considerate of other traffic in the area.

The deadline to file a property tax appeal is Monday, September 14.

Bishop also reminds residents that they do not have to complete all of their research before filing an appeal. She says if a property owner later determines that the value they asserted was too low, they can raise that amount, but they cannot lower the asserted value after the appeal is filed.

Residents may also designate an agent to represent or assist them during the appeal process. According to the post, that agent does not have to be a real estate or insurance professional and could be a friend, family member, business associate or hired professional.

Organizers hope to get additional clarification about the agent process during Monday night’s property tax class at the Chattooga County Agricultural Center.

Anyone who still needs an appeal form can stop by downtown Summerville Saturday morning.

Commissioner Allen Seeks Changes Before Approving GMASS Agreement.

Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen is raising questions about the terms of a proposed new three-year contract with Georgia Mass Appraisal Solutions and Services, or GMASS, the private company that provides property appraisal services for the county.

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Chattooga County Seeking Bids For Phase One Of Tooga Theatre Renovation

Chattooga County is moving forward with plans for the renovation of the historic Tooga Theatre in downtown Summerville, with the county now advertising for bids for the first phase of the project.

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Trion Council Meeting Set For Thursday

The Town of Trion will hold its regular workshop and council meeting this Thursday, August 27.

According to Mayor Mickey D. McGraw, the workshop will begin at 6 PM in the Town Hall Conference Room.

The regular council meeting will follow shortly after the workshop concludes.

Residents with questions or comments about the meeting may contact Mayor McGraw or the Trion Town Hall office for additional information.

Chattooga County To Host Free Tax Appeal Class August 31st

Chattooga County will host a free Tax Appeal Class on Monday, August 31st at 6 PM to help property owners better understand the process of appealing their 2026 property assessments.

The location for the class is still being finalized.

Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen said he is working to secure a location and will release a flyer once the site is confirmed. Allen is also finalizing who will teach the class.

The class is being organized in response to a high volume of property owners filing appeals on their tax assessments this year.

This is not the first time Chattooga County has seen a large number of appeals. In 2023, more than 3,000 property owners filed appeals after receiving their assessment notices.

At that time, Allen was a private citizen and held a community-wide meeting to help residents better understand how the appeals process works. Now, as sole commissioner, Allen is again working to provide residents with information about how to file and handle an appeal.

The August 31st class is expected to cover the basics of the appeal process, including how property owners can review their assessment, file an appeal and understand the steps that follow after an appeal is submitted.

County officials are expected to release additional details once the location and instructor are confirmed.

The free Tax Appeal Class will be held Monday, August 31st at 6 PM. WZQZ News will provide the location and additional information as soon as it

Walker County Tax Commissioner’s Rock Spring Office Closing Temporarily For Repairs

The Walker County Tax Commissioner’s office in Rock Spring will close to the public beginning Monday, August 24th, as renovation and repair work continues at the Local Government Services building.

The building, located at 122 Highway 95, sustained substantial water damage in April after a pipe burst overnight, flooding several offices and public areas.

A restoration team began work earlier this month, starting on the second floor, where the Walker County Assessor’s office is located. Work on that portion of the building is not expected to be completed until after Labor Day.

The Tax Commissioner’s office handles tax payments for land, homes and personal property, along with vehicle tag and title services.

While the Rock Spring office is closed, most Tax Commissioner staff will relocate to the Rossville office at 2012 McFarland Gap Road. Additional service windows will be available there for the public. The Rossville office is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM until 5 PM, and a night drop is also available.

Officials say operations at the Planning and Zoning department, which is also located inside the Local Government Services building, are not expected to be disrupted.

The building is insured.

Concerned Citizens Offering Free Property Tax Appeal Forms Today In Summerville

Chattooga County property owners who want to appeal their 2026 property assessment can pick up a free appeal form in downtown Summerville today.

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Summerville Assigns Mickey Floyd To Building Inspection Duties

The City of Summerville is moving to strengthen its building inspection program, with Mickey Floyd taking on additional responsibilities as a building inspector while continuing his work with the city’s fire department.

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