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Lucas C. Allison, Wilcox County Correspondent

The Wilcox Board of Commissioners held a Special Called meeting Tuesday July 21^st, the purpose was to hear a proposal from GMASS for Maintenance Contract and Revaluation for 2021-2023.  GMASS has been under contract with Wilcox County and Tax Assessors office beginning in 2018 the current contract expires in 2020.  GMASS has completed the revaluation of all properties in Wilcox County which was due in 2020, however due to COVID19 the revaluation implementation was postponed, possibly to be implemented in 2021.  During this revaluation, the found one property that had not been on the digest for 20 years.  Mrs. Heather Harden, Chief Appraiser for Wilcox County stated that GMASS had more than fulfilled their duties under the current contract and as a result of the revaluation approximately two million dollars in growth has been located which was not on the books.  Mrs. Harden stated without GMASS her department would have to hire two fulltime employees with the experience and expertise of GMASS which would cost approximately $80,000. Per year versus hiring GMASS for $37,850.00 per year in which the county would gain the use of 22 experts in the tax assessor’s business.  They would complete revaluations on 1/3 of all properties in the county per year as required by law, along with general support, maintenance, and appeal support.  The total cost of the 3-year contract is $113,550.00.  After much discussion on the matter and questions being answered for the commissioner by Mr. Joe Wright GMASS Project Manager and Mrs. Harden on a motion by Commissioner Clay Reid the board approved the contract with GMASS.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.  The Wilcox Board of Commissioners holds its monthly meeting the 1^st Tuesday of each month in the Commissioners office at the Courthouse in Abbeville.