Peach County Tax Appraiser and Property Owner Battle Over Raised Taxes

FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Fort Valley apartment owner, Marilyn McDowell, is taking the chief tax appraiser to court, because she’s running out of money, and can no longer afford to pay property taxes.

Chief tax appraiser, Dennis Lee, did not want to offer any comments at this time until the court appeal is over.

According to McDowell, she pays 14 percent on property taxes versus the average for Georgia apartment properties, which is 4 percent.

Property Tax Eagle managing director, Craig Cardella, stepped in to help McDowell when she needed a second opinion, and believes there is an underlying issue.

“The Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has an ongoing investigation of the alleged racial discrimination caused by the unfair tax assessment made by the Peach County Board of Assessors,” says Cardella.

The court appeal date is set for Monday, January 6th at 11 a.m. at the Peach County Courthouse.

Click here, for a previous report on this story.