LEESBURG, Ga. (WALB) - Legal expert, Chris Cohilas, explained in a long-form interview what he says should happen next in the Lee County property tax overpayment saga.

The Lee County Board of Commissioners issued a letter to residents, claiming a mathematical error in the 2025 millage rate calculation went undetected.

Commission Chairman Luke Singletary said a private consultant retained by the commission found that residents overpaid approximately $1.5 million to the county, and that they are working on a plan to refund what’s owed.

Some Lee County residents say they believe the the Lee County School System erroneously collected overpayments as well. The Lee County School System has not released an estimate of reported overpayments.

Cohilas said that exact figures cannot be determined until proper steps are taken by the Board of Tax Assessors, including filing a new form to the Georgia Department of Revenue, called a “PT32.1.”

He said once that form is completed and approved, the county commission and school board would have official numbers to work with to determine if an overpayment occurred.

As far as potential repayment options, Cohilas said the refunds could come in the form of a credit for next year’s payments, a check or a lower property tax rate next year.

Cohilas said there is a lot misinformation surrounding the reported property tax overpayments and the recent ESPLOST renewal failure, and that Lee County residents have the right to a public meeting.

The Lee County Board of Tax Assessors said Friday that they will hold a called meeting on Thursday, May 28, at 1 p.m. The meeting will be in the Kinchafoonee Conference Room of the T. Page Tharp Governmental Building, located at 102 Starksville Avenue North in Leesburg, the board said.

You can watch previous coverage of the Lee County tax issue and other important county news, below.

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