Pierce County taxpayers will be getting assessments this week and along with it — an eye-popping surprise.
“Most property owners will see an increase in their property evaluations,” said Chief Appraiser Bill Rozier.
The assessment notices were mailed Friday, May 29 and should arrive in local mailboxes this week.
Rozier said the county’s real estate market has driven the sharp increase in the price of both land and homes across the county. These increases have resulted in a significant increase in property values in this year’s assessments.
“It is a good thing that people are wanting to come to Pierce County to live,” said the chief appraiser. “This is one of the drawbacks to it in that it raises property values.”
Rozier stressed the board of assessors’ role is to simply measure value.
“Under Georgia state law, we are required to appraise all taxable property at its fair market value. This is defined as the amount a knowledgeable buyer would pay and a willing seller would accept in an open market,” Rozier said. “Our appraisers simply analyze the local real estate market-specifically, the recent sales of land and homes in Pierce Countyand adjust our assessments to mirror what buyers are actually paying right now. We don’t change the property values simply to raise money fro the county.”
Since homes and land are now selling for higher prices in the county, state law dictates assessments must rise to reflect that new market reality.
Ideally, the assessed values for all property statewide should be at 40 percent and the state gives county’s some leeway, ranging from 36 percent to 44 percent. In a recent audit, Pierce County’s assessed property values had dropped to 33 percent.
The rates must be adjusted to fall in between the 36-44 percent ratio.
Counties that do not fall in the required ratio are fined per parcel, lose access to state and federal grants and lose utility company payments.
Tax Commissioner Nicole Scurry, County Chairman Neal Bennett and County Manager Thomas Sauls conducted a joint interview last week to discuss the coming assessments.
“I know it stinks, but we have to do this to be compliant with the law,” said County Chairman Neal Bennett.
Tax Commissioner Nicole Scurry encourages taxpayers to review their tax assessments and to investigate and apply for exemptions when possible.
“There are ways you can save money, even with the increase in assessments,” she said.
Scurry’s office has brochures detailing the exemptions available to taxpayers. The brochures can be obtained at the tax commissioner’s office.
Rozier wants taxpayers to note the assessment is not the tax bill.
“While an increase in property value can impact your final taxes, your actual tax bill is calculated using the millage rate. The millage rate is determined separately by the Pierce County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education later in the year, based on their budgetary needs,” he said.
In year’s past, an estimated tax bill has been included with the assessments, but the state changed that requirement this year.
“You will still be able to see last year’s value and this year’s value, but it won’t include an estimated tax bill.”
Chairman Bennett said he would hope the local governments would be able to cut the millage, since the increased property values will increase county revenues.
“That is something we will definitely take a look at,” Bennett said.
Rozier also echoed Scurry’s remarks and told taxpayers to investigate exemptions and to file for an appeal.
Appeals must be in writing and must be filed 45 days from May 29.
One of the most common exemptions is the homestead exemption.
Homeowners can file for the exemption if they own their own home and it is their primary residence. Application for the homestead exemption are accepted year-round at the tax assessor’s office (though they must be filed by July 13, 2026 to apply to the current tax year). Special assessment programs are also available for agricultural and conservation.
For more information, call the Pierce County Board of A s s e s s o r s at (912) 449-2025. The office is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day and is located in the courthouse annex at 312 Nichols Street, Blackshear.
