At the quorum court meeting Monday evening, justices of the peace heard a more detailed report about the impending property reassessment.
The JPs had heard in March from Jeannie Davidson, Carroll County Assessor. She explained that sharply rising costs for houses and vehicles would affect personal and property tax assessments. Carroll County is at the end of a five-year period since the last reappraisal, and the state requires reappraisals at least every five years.
The county contracts with Arkansas CAMA Technology, Inc., for the reappraisals. Dennis Wells, Carroll County Appraisal Manager CAMA, explained in more detail how the higher rates will affect people in the county. He said the volatile prices will require Carroll County to reassess every three years instead of every five.
Wells started with the good news. “Anyone frozen will stay frozen,” he said, referring to senior citizens and those with a disability. For everyone else, he explained how the higher prices would be implemented. A primary residence is limited to a five percent increase per year, even though home prices have increased at double that rate. Agricultural and commercial properties are limited to a 10 percent increase per year. When ownership changes, however, the full assessment is attached to a property.
Notices will go out in mid-July with the higher property and personal tax bills. The notice will include contact numbers for those with questions. The notice will also explain how to appeal to the Board of Equalization, which reviews assessments. These higher rates will take effect for next year’s taxes and will be due in October of 2023.
In other business:
- JP Don McNeely brought up the issue of sheriff’s deputies taking patrol cars home. Some of them live outside the county. He noted the additional costs to the county and explained that the county would not want to give deputies any more reasons to leave for greener pastures.
- JP Jack Deaton said the county’s new radio system will have additional costs and will take a little longer to complete because a new tower site must be located.
- The judicial facilities committee has met, but unanticipated costs for the county’s new radio system may cut into the funds available for building upgrades.
- Barbara Weems has lived on Carroll Road 205 for eight years, and she said the county has done a very good job of maintaining the road in that time. Rains this spring were hard on the road, however, and Weems appeared on behalf of a neighbor who has been isolated after a culvert washed out. Weems said not even four-wheel-drive trucks can get through, and an ambulance could not get through, either. She asked for just enough work to make the road passable again. County Judge Ronda Griffin said the road is listed as a private road, despite its three-digit number. She promised to check further, but others at the table pointed out that the road does not have county road signs, although it appears on maps.
- Mike McKelvey of the Office of Emergency Management reported on a temporary power outage at central dispatch in the early morning hours of June 14. Emergency adjustments were made to maintain communication with police and fire personnel. The dispatch center had been retrofitted into an area of the detention center, and shared power with an air-handling unit. When that unit malfunctioned, power to dispatch was interrupted. In the long term, dispatch will need its own dedicated electrical supply.
- An expenditure of $281,000 was approved for a new roof on the Carroll County Detention Center. The existing roof has been in place for 15 years.
- Pam Grudek was approved for another three-year term as the quorum court’s representative on the Carroll County Board of Equalization. The five-member board has representatives from the county judge, the quorum court, the school districts, and the cities and incorporated areas.
- Vacation pay was granted in lieu of vacation time for an employee of the Road Dept. JP Duane Coatney objected to the arrangement and insisted that the county should have employees take time off instead. JP Craig Hicks said the personnel committee evaluates each request on its merits. County Clerk Connie Doss explained that this benefit is only available for long-term county employees. She also noted that the Road Dept. has been short-staffed. All but Coatney voted for the pay-out.
- An expenditure of $2,600 was approved for an access control system at the Eastern District courthouse annex.
- Katie Zerr will replace Martha Fargo on the Eureka Springs Library Board. Joe Hill will take Fargo’s place on the Carroll County Library Board.