Board holds public hearing for concerns about tax documentation

Published 7:00 am Tuesday, August 4, 2015

 

TAX ISSUES: Frank Farley, representative from the Grand Oak Apartments and Hughes Management, addressed concerns with the tax office during Monday’s meeting. Photo by Ashley Collins.

TAX ISSUES: Frank Farley, representative from the Grand Oak Apartments and Hughes Management, addressed concerns with the tax office during Monday’s meeting. Photo by Ashley Collins.

Representatives from two low-income housing properties in Picayune objected to the 2015 tax assessment rolls during a public hearing held at the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday.

Daniel Knox, a representative from Blue Spruce Apartments in Picayune, addressed concerns about the Pearl River County Tax Assessor/Collector office not receiving the income and expense documents he allegedly turned in to the office earlier this year.

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“First it was a question that I didn’t supply the information, but I did supply the income substitution and appeals packet, the audited financial,” Knox said.

Tax Assessor Gary Beech said their office didn’t receive the documents by the deadline.

“They were supposed to give us an audited financial statement but they didn’t turn those in by the April 1 deadline,” Beech said.

Frank Farley, a representative from the Grande Oak Apartments and Hughes Management, addressed a similar concern. Farley said they’ve had a good working relationship with the tax office until now.

“Every year, we discuss taxes with Beech and I don’t think we’ve ever had problems or filed a suit. But this year is challenging our relationship,” Farley said.

Farley said his office submitted the required financial statements by the deadline but the tax office said otherwise.

District IV Supervisor J. Patrick Lee said the board will look into the matter and will hold a public meeting where they will announce their decision on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 9 a.m. inside the old court house.

Also at the meeting, the board announced the county’s landfill, managed by Waste Management, will be open on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

County residents can bring four 50-gallon bags at no charge, District II Supervisor Malcolm Perry said.

In other news, the board:

—Approved travel for the Pearl River County tax office to attend a certification event in Hattiesburg, Miss. on Aug. 6.

—Approved personnel changes in the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department.

—Approved the Pearl River County Tax Assessor/Collector office to use the boardroom within the court facilities for the week of Aug. 31 for a tax sale and approved an application for certification.

—Approved travel for the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department to the Armorer’s course in Gulfport, Miss. on Oct. 15.

The next board meeting will be Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 9 a.m.