The tax assessor's office gave more details about the revaluation's findings at the commissioners' meeting Sept. 23.
"Where we're going to take a hit is these old industrial properties," county tax assessor Larry Newton said Sept. 23.
Different areas of the county will increase in value at different rates, generally speaking.
For example, vacant land in the southern part of the county is estimated at a 60 percent higher value than before the revaluation, while land in the northern part of the county is estimated at a 90 percent higher value.
"I don't want to say we took the low road but we took the safe road," Newton said Sept. 23, referring to his office's attempt to avoid overvaluing property.
The value is determined based on the sales in a property's area. Out-of-state sales must be included.
However, there is an appeals process for those property owners who disagree with the value determined for their property.
Health Department seeks WIC nutritionist
County health director Dr. Francis Kateh asked for permission to hire a nutritionist as part of the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program, a requirement under new federal guidelines.
"WIC provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, healthcare referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age 5 who are found to be at nutritional risk," according to its Web site.
"[The position] was terminated from funding" in the past, Kateh said.
He added the WIC program was fiscally self-sustainable.
He said he had $25,000 in free funds from another vacancy and could find the other $5,000 to $7,000 in necessary funds by examining his budget. He estimated a good nutritionist would require a $30,000 to $36,000 salary.
The free funds have benefits attached, he said.
Commissioner Jim Sims advised waiting to make the decision.
Kateh warned if the program was audited and a nutritionist was lacking, the program could lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding.
He added an audit could happen early in the program and the consultant who does the audits knows of the vacancy.
Some of the commissioners seemed confused.
Commissioner Ross Streater said he did not believe the county could add to its tax burden or the budget.
Kateh countered, with a raised voice, that less than 1 percent of the funds for the program come from the county.
"I think we need more information," Commission Chairwoman Anna Baucom said.
Kateh warned again of the potential for an audit, as well as the delay created by waiting. Any position opening would have to be advertised for a set time period.
Baucom said money for the budget has already been allocated.
Kateh could work with human resources manager Lawrence Gatewood, as well as County Manager Vance Gulledge to determine the cost and where the money for the position would impact the department's budget, then bring the information back, Commissioner Jarvis Woodburn said. This resolution passed.
Other Business
The Commission approved the Anson County Agricutlural Advisory Board's request for the board's meetings to require a quorum of only four members instead of five.
Sims said this was appropriate since the Commission has the same number of members and only requires four members for a quorum.
Anson County Council on Aging director Bernice Bennett requested $1,303 in matching funds for $13,026 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The funds will go toward a nutrition program for the elderly. This budget amendment was approved.
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