Not many government meetings conclude with a celebratory air, but last week’s meeting of the Jones County Board of Tax Assessors did just that.
Board Chairman Dr. Leigh Stanford called the April 2 meeting to order, and board member Joe Rutledge led the opening prayer and pledge.
The meeting proceeded as normal until the reports concluded, and at agenda item 10, Stanford introduced the final candidate for the position of Jones County’s Chief Appraiser, Lori Buchanan.
The county has been under the leadership of Interim Chief Appraiser Jim Davis since March 10, 2025, following the termination of the previous chief appraiser, Anthony George, Feb. 20, 2025.
Multiple reasons were given for the termination, including the fact that the county failed three sales ratio audits from the Georgia Department of Revenue and the results of a 2024 Peer Review by the agency.
Stanford said Buchanan is an Appraiser IV and currently works with Technical Appraisal Services that is conducting the countywide reevaluation.
“Lori has been instrumental in TAS’s work in the county and is now eager to lead our staff in continued efforts towards full state compliance while transitioning the office to efficient and sustainable operations,” the chairman said.
Stanford said one of her favorite things about Buchanan is that she is a Jones County resident.
The candidate graduated from Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville in 2006 with her Bachelor of Science degree and began her career in 2008 at the Bibb County Tax Assessors Office under the leadership of Davis.
Buchanan earned her Appraiser IV certification and worked as a commercial appraiser until 2019, when she took over as Assistant Chief Appraiser of the Commercial Division.
“She began working with TAS in 2022 and has been part of the solution for Jones County,” Stanford said.
The chairman thanked Davis and the staff of the tax assessors office for their work over the last 14 months to get the county’s sales ratio in the outstanding position it is in. The 2025 ratio has been projected at 38, quite an increase over the previous year’s 35.52.
She told Buchanan she is excited to have her lead the county into its next phase.
Davis came forward to speak. He congratulated both the board and Buchanan in the selection.
“I couldn’t endorse her more,” he said. Three Jones County commissioners — Sam Kitchens, John Wood and chairman Chris Weidner — attended the April 2 meeting.
Kitchens spoke during public comments. He began his remarks referencing the revaluation and sales tax ratio.
“I’m a little lost for words,” he said. “We didn’t think the county would be in this position for at least three years. No one thought this could happen so quickly. The fact that we are here in less than 14 months is just shy of amazing.”
The commissioner thanked the Board of Tax Assessors for their leadership, then he thanked appraiser Bill Goodman, all the staff and TAS. He said the board finding someone with Buchanan’s experience and knowledge was incredible.
“This is a homerun all day long,” he added.
The board adjourned to enter closed session at 5:18 p.m. for personnel and reopened the meeting at 5:26 p.m.
Official vote
Stanford called the meeting back to order and stated the board was pleased to have a final candidate. She then addressed Buchanan.
“This board vowed to clean up the issues and provide taxpayers with fairness and transparency. We have done our best, and we ask you to continue what we pledged and bring another level of professionalism to this job,” the chairman said. “That is what this board expects of you.”
Stanford said the board is approachable and will support the chief appraiser and the department.
“We will continue to make sure you have what you need,” she said.
Board member Justin Kelly made the motion to appoint Buchanan to the position of chief appraiser, and the motion passed unanimously.
Stanford said Buchanan would officially begin in June and reminded Davis he was not off the hook quite yet.
Action items
Goodman, appraiser and board secretary, presented the homestead applications following the approval of the minutes at the beginning of the agenda. He said there were 78 homestead and one veteran homestead applications, and he recommended approval of all 79.
Board member Andrea Riley made the motion to approve, and the vote in favor was unanimous.
Goodman presented four ACOs for approval, and Rutledge made the motion to approve those. Next were 23 motor vehicle appeals with that motion by Kelly. Both motions were approved unanimously.
The secretary said 60 CUVA applications were received, but two of them were below the minimum acreage. He asked for those two to be tabled and the 58 others approved. Kelly made the motion as requested.
Two board members abstained from the vote, but the remaining three members voted in favor.
Three votes are required for a legal vote.
Goodman gave a project update. He said the 488 appeals for 2025 were officially completed, and work was underway for the 2026 and 2027 digest.
“We are trying to stay on schedule and are way ahead of where we were last year,” he said. “We’re in good shape.”
The secretary said they are on track to have the values complete by June 1 and assessments mailed June 15.
The next Board of Tax Assessors meeting is scheduled May 7.
