Prentiss County Voice

To the editor,
Hello to all of my frends in Prentiss County.
Although my friends’ list has gotten shorter these past few weeks since I have brought it to your attention that, the supervisors have hired an inexperienced person to reappraise our taxes.
As you may have heard or even read about I have been degraded and verbally assaulted by the supervisors. I have received threats by people from blocked numbers, although I recognized the voices and then I have received treats from a few that have told me who they where and that they would see to it I STAYED OUT OF THE SUPERVISORS BUSINESS.
Then to top the cake the one person who I thought to be my best friend in all of Prentiss County called me and told me to stay away from the supervisors or he would hit me where it would hurt me the most, my children. Sure enough two days later Children Services of Prentiss County paid me a visit with a complaint of child neglect and abuse.
I know now to keep that friend at a distance and away from my children. That’s is not politics it is just plain mean and evil.
Now to the point of my letter by now you all, now the supervisors have gone over the tax assessor’s head and hired a man of their choosing to reappraise our property taxes.
First, let me explain this. I received a letter from an attorney stating that Mr. Parsons is a Certified Appraiser through the Mississippi Tax Commission, not to be confused, he is not a Licensed Real Estate Appraiser through the Mississippi Real Estate Commission. This certificate does not make you a licensed real estate appraiser nor does it give you any type of experience in Mass Tax Appraisals. What it will get you is a little certificate that will get you a $50,000 a year job in Prentiss County,
I have contacted the Mississippi Tax Commission and the way it has been explained to me, is that anyone, who wishes to take their test and pays $325 could become a certified appraiser through them. Also, according to them, this person must work under the direct supervision of the Tax Assessor, unless they are a private firm with five years experience in Mass Appraisals.
Second, the County’s Tax Assessor must approve all appraisals. I have tried to contact our Tax Assessor on several occasions and so far, I have not spoke to him. But I will tell you according to the Mississippi Tax Commission the hired tax appraiser has to work under the direct supervision of the tax assessor and under his supervision and if our tax assessor does not ok his assessments then they are useless to the county and the supervisors will have wasted a lot of our money.
Next, everyone needs to understand that Mr. Parsons WAS HIRED and works directly for the supervisors and not the tax assessor. I would like to explain this again. Mr. Parsons’ job is to reappraises our property and if it is beyond a certain level, our supervisors will then be able to give themselves a new raise.
I also want point out that THE SUPERVISORS HAVE STATED THAT MR. PARSONS IS A EXPERIENCED TAX AUDITOR. That has nothing to do with tax assessments and property appraisals and nor does it give him any experience in the property appraisal field. In fact if Mr. Parsons was working for a private firm he would be required to have five years experience to do the County’s appraisals and also be a licensed real estate appraiser but because the supervisors hired him as a county employee he doesn’t have to meet those requirements JUST WORK DIRECTLY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE TAX ASSESSOR. Although it is my opinion as a county employee, he should be held to a higher standard.
Oh a note on his employment Mr. Parsons was not a certified appraiser until after he was hired by the supervisors and the county probably paid for him to go to the school so in fact they hired Mr. Parsons knowing he has no experience and before he even had his certificate. Now on that note again I would like to say Mr. Parsons has no experience hi mass appraisals and being a tax auditor does not give you that
experience.
For ALL of you that have thanked me, thank you for you support. I feel I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.
For ALL of that have threat- ; ened me, I still ain’t scared of! you or the Supervisqrs.
And finally for the best friend who I lost due to the phone call he made to children services: They found nothing wrong in my home. I am a good father, grandfather, and teacher to my children today and hopefully I can always teach them the difference between right and wrong because that’s what God says I must do. As far as losing you as a friend, my heart hurts not for myself but for you and your loss.
Charles Cole

These are the questions asked of the supervisors concerning the hired tax assessor We all should be asking the supervisors why we are hiring someone from out side to perform a job we have an elected tax assessor to do

1. How or why did the supervisors become involved in hiring a person to perform the job of State mandated appraisals when, in fact, it is the job of the County Tax Office to perform this job. Answer: Supervisors have a statutory and constitutional responsibility on all State mandates.

2. Who is Mr. Neil Parsons? Answer: Mr. Neil Parsons is a retired State Auditor

3. What credentials does he have to do the job he has been hired to do? Answer: He is a retired State Auditor and has passed the State Tax Appraisal Tests.

4. What makes him qualified to reappraise our County Taxes? Answer: He has been certified by the State to do reappraisal work

5. How can Prentiss County citizens be assured that the appraisals are correct if they are not done by our elected Tax Assessor? Answer: Mr. Parsons has the experience and training to properly perform this job

6. What is his rate of pay? Answer: $50,000 per year which is less than a contractor

7. Will he also be furnished a County vehicle to perform his job? Answer: Yes

8. Will he be given a fuel allowance? * Answer: Yes

9. Who will ok his expenditures? Answer: The Board of Supervisors

10. Why do the Supervisors think they would know more than the Tax Assessors Office when hiring someone to appraise taxes in our County - are they qualified in the field of tax assessment? Answer: The Board of Supervisors does not claim to have any expertise in the appraisal of taxes which is the reason for hiring Mr. Parsons

11. Since he will be doing a job concerning taxes will Mr. Parsons be working for and with the Tax Office? Answer: Yes

12. How long will Mr. Parsons be employed at the sum he is at now (50 thousand) is he contractual and when will his contract end? Answer: Mr. Parsons employment agreement goes through the coming fiscal year

13. Who was hired as Mr. Parsons part time help? Answer: Angie White

14. At what rate of pay is the part time help paid? Answer: $ 15. 00 per hour

15. What are the part time helps credentials and qualifications ? Answer: Certified Appraiser

16. How long will the part time help be working for the citizens of Prentiss County? Answer: Unknown at this time

I received this late last evening one of our readers and a close freind asked these questions of the supervisors in reference to them hiring someone to do our tax and property assesment ,this means that this gentleman will be the person that decides what you pay in taxes ,According to my freind one of the supervisors advised him that they didnt have the time to discuss this with him in a open supervisors meeting and I personally would have to wonder where it is supposed to be discussed if not at a regular meeting of the supervisors ,I think maybe others should be asking these same questions and insisting that they get answers ….

1…
How or why did the supervisors become involved in hiring a person to perform the job of state mandated appraisials when in fact it is the job of the county tax office to perform this job

2…
Who is Mr Neil Parsons,

3..
What credentials does he have to do the job he has been hired to do

4…
What makes him qualified to reapraise our county taxes

5…
How can Prentiss county citizens be assured that the appraisals are correct if they are not done by our elected tax assesor

6…
What is his rate of pay

7…
Will he also be furnished a county vehicle to perform his job

8…
Will he be given a fuel allowance

9…
Who will ok his expenditures

10…

Why do the Supervisors think they would know more than the tax assesors office when hiring someone to appraise taxes in our county are they qualified in the feild of tax assesment

11…

Since he will be doing a job concerning taxes will Mr Parsons be working for and with the tax office

12…

How long will Mr Parsons be employed at the sum he is at now (50 thousand) is he contractual and when will his contract end

13…

****** Who was hired as Mr Parsons part time help *******

14…

At what rate of pay is the part time help payed

15..

What are the part time helps credentials and qualifications

16…

How long will the part time help be working for the citizens of Prentiss County