To the Editor:    
    I would first like to thank Chip Bailey for all his information. It has inspired me to try to figure out the Morgan County property tax system. What I have figured out is the system is set up so it can be interpreted anyway the tax assessor wishes, fair or not. It is nothing but a numbers game to be used at the tax assessor’s whim. The entire system is flawed and the only way around it is either to know someone or to pay someone. Does not the tax assessor work for the people as a public servant to “help” us?    
    I have found that every excuse the tax assessor uses to raise my house and land value, I have been able to find comparable properties, which show just the opposite. There is no uniformity, which is required by state law. Even though the fair market value and an appraisal is shown it is ignored. How come the economy has caused many counties to take a 7 to 9 percent reduction in property taxes across the board and many people in Morgan County have had their land values doubled?     I have spoken to several people who have appealed because their square footage was wrong on their tax report. Their square footage was corrected but the assessor’s office decided to raise the value of their square footage. They get you coming and going.    
    I believe the assessors office knows people won’t want to hire an attorney to win a suit because they can’t afford the money it will cost. They have you where they want you. Do our commissioners do anything to help us? NO! I believe that is called taxation without representation. This is the same reason we fought the British to start this great country. Think about it.
Missy Brown
Madison
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