ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) —Dougherty County homeowners continue to question why their property assessments have jumped this year. County commissioners are hosting town halls to address the concerns.

District 4 Commissioner Russell Gray is holding a meeting Tuesday, Sept. 9, to give residents answers, following weeks of public pushback.

Revaluation follows 2022 compliance issue

The county’s 2026 revaluation comes after a 2022 sales ratio study found Dougherty County out of compliance with state requirements. That triggered the need for a full revaluation, the first in the county since 2007.

Many property owners have reported assessments more than doubling, along with questions about why values vary between similar properties.

“It’s very hard to predict what each individual’s impact will be,” Gray said. “Now, given the fact that your property’s valuation went up 100, 150, 200 or more percent, certainly is an alarm bell going off. And from a mathematical perspective, you’re bound to pay more taxes than somebody else. I think the biggest issue right now is figuring out the equalization part.”

Outside firm hired for revaluations

The county hired outside firm GMASS to handle property revaluations after the tax office ran out of resources. Gray has criticized the figures online and demanded transparency. GMASS will not attend the town hall. Chief Appraiser Adam Bridges explained the situation and outlined next steps instead.

“Citizens don’t need to pay a penny more tax than they need to, to operate the governments that we have here in the community,” Bridges said. “And, you know, we need to continue to provide good service to the citizens and not overcharge for our services. And so, you know, that said, I mean, there are a lot of questions. This is a very sensitive subject for a lot of people. You know, we’re digging into their pocketbooks at a tough time and want to see how we can mitigate those damages.”

The town hall will begin at 6 p.m. at the Northwest Library’s Event Center on Dawson Road.

Gloria Gaines is hosting another town hall next week.

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