Your Vote Matters
Stand with Preston Smith for Assessor
Welcome to the campaign of Preston Smith. As your County Assessor, I’m committed to transparency, integrity, and service. Here, you’ll find my vision for our community and the key issues that matter most to us. Join me in making a difference!
End the Contract with Tyler Technologies
After receiving a $17M contract in 2020 to conduct the 2023 assessment, Tyler Technologies embedded themselves into Jackson County government, with essentially conducting all the assessment duties–and performing miserably. If I am elected Assessor, on Day One any contract with Tyler ends, and we start the process of ridding any involvement of this company with our county.
Follow the State Tax Commission order, roll back the 2023 assessment and start the process of refunding your money to you
If this is not fixed by 2028, I will fix it. The 2023 assessment was illegal, because the Assessor did not provide proper notice to taxpayers about their appeal rights and inspection rights, and did not conduct inspections according to state law. It was allow unfair and inaccurate, because most of the values assigned to properties were not close to market values.
Change how properties are assessed
Here are the ways that I propose to change how properties in Jackson County are assessed: (1) Go back five years, and continue forward, that whenever a property sells, that value is put on the tax rolls. (2) Put a cap on increases at the every-other-year assessment at a 5% increase. (3) Fairness. In one neighborhood, the market values on the tax rolls ranged from $90 a sq. ft. to $402. I want a fair assessment for everybody.
Rebuild the Trust in County Goverment
Since 2019, we have had a County that has literally, been at war with taxpayers. We have endured excessively high increases, a biased appeal system, and abusive staff and vendors who have tried to intimidate anybody who appealed. That stops on Day One when I am the Assessor. As Assessor, I am going to make public any and all information used to determine every assessment, and put all that information online for everybody to see. Taxpayers are not going to have to file endless Open Records requests to see the basic information about their own property. I will be accessible to anybody, to answer any question at any time. I want to set a new standard for County officials to be responsive to the press and members of the public, with absolutely nothing to hide. Public office is a sacred responsibility and trust given by the people.
Hit Deadlines
The process of having an Assessor who knows nothing about how to manage large projects and hit deadlines. I am an expert in both. I think the basic job of the Assessor is just get the tax notices in the mail to taxpayers, accurately, and early in the assessment year, so people have plenty of time to appeal if they want to. Just hit the milestones and get the work done.
Manage Data Accurately
For six years, I have essentially been the quality control system for the Jackson County Assessment Department. What errors I have caught have been so simply and easy-to-find, anybody who was looking for them could have found them. But for the last six years, nobody has been looking. That stops and I pledge to clean up the data and make sure it is accurate.
Steamline the Process
For the last six years, the Assessor has added review steps to the appeal process that is not in the state law. I am going to find ways to make it easier for people to appeal, work harder to make it fair and unbiased, and be transparent so our citizens in Jackson County will not feel abused by the process, but respected.
My Commitment to you
As a candidate, I will work hard to hear your concerns about how have been handled by the current Assessor. For the last three years, I have talked with thousands of Jackson County residents, or responded to thousands of emails or comments on social media to help people appeal and get a fair, accurate assessment. As the elected Assessor, I will continue to respond to every person and work hard for fairness, accuracy and transparency in the entire system.
Support Our Campaign Today
Your support is vital for our mission to make a difference in our community. Whether through donations or volunteering, your involvement can help bring meaningful change. Join us as we work towards a better future together. Every contribution makes a difference.