I don't know how to ask this in a nice way, so I'll ask it the only way I know how:

What moron hired the "consultants" to re-appraise all the properties in Mitchell County? And put them on a commission basis, so that they have every incentive to appraise property as high as possible? Even to a ridiculous amount?

Last week, like many of the home and land owners of Mitchell County, I received my new property tax appraisal. The new amount was a good 25% above the old amount, and a good 50% more than I could sell my property for. And I was one of the lucky ones. Stories of 75% - 100% increases abound in the county.

Then we have the standard "appeals" process. You'd be just as well off appealing to the pine tree in your back yard. These "consultants" (I have heard) are paid a percentage of the total appraisement value of the county. What a crock! Of course your appeal is going to be denied! You are taking money out of their pocket.

Appraisals should be made on fair market value. None of the appraisals I have seen so far are even in the right ballpark of fair market value. This is just bull******. Guess how much more it is going to be 4 years from now? I guess it depends on which model Mercedes these consultants buy and how high their payments are (if they don't pay in cash).

I propose a new law in Mitchell County that no outside consultants are allowed to conduct tax appraisals on a commission basis. And I, for one, intend to vote against every single sitting county commissioner. Here are there names, the people to blame, in case you forgot: Phil Byrd, Lisa Sparks, Jim Saylor, Patrick Phillips, Mike Hensley. And I would like to know how much THEIR appraisals went up this year!