By Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

Polk County Commissioners plan to review three bids submitted for the upcoming property revaluation, which will be effective in 2017.

Commissioners met June 1 and briefly discussed the bids, with Polk County Tax Administrator Melissa Bowlin saying she is recommending the middle-priced bid from Wampler-Eanes Appraisal Group, Ltd., whose bid was for $332,330.

Wampler-Eanes was the second lowest bidder of three companies, with Tyler Technologies being the lowest at $294,000 and CCA (Complete County Assessments) being the highest at $450,899.

The scope of service includes the revaluation of 16,699 total properties in the county.

Bowlin said the lowest bidder does not plan on having people come to Polk County to look at each parcel and does a lot by way of computer, so she is not recommending the lowest bidder.

Bowlin said she is requesting someone go out and really pay attention, particularly to commercial properties, including the new development at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC).

Commissioner Keith Holbert said Tyler Technologies, if he is not mistaken, is one of the companies who did Polk County’s revaluation in the 1998- 2000 timeframe. Holbert said they did not go out to properties as they were contracted by the county.

Bowlin said that is her understanding regarding Tyler Technologies.

Polk County has historically saved money in preparation for revaluations, which are required by state statute at least every eight years. The county will pull the money to hire a contractor from its revaluation fund balance, which last year had $900,000 set aside. The county has not set aside funding for the revaluation the last two years because of the high fund balance already.

Polk also plans to hire an additional tax assessor for the 2017 revaluation, with work beginning in the 2015-2016 budget year.

The new property values for the 2017 revaluation will be effective as of Jan. 1, 2017. The last effective date of the most recent revaluation was Jan. 1, 2009.

Commissioners are scheduled to adopt the new budget, which begins July 1 and select a contractor for the revaluation during its upcoming meeting on Monday, June 15. The county held a public hearing on the budget proposal on June 1.

The county’s meeting is held on the second floor meeting room of the Womack building in Columbus. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.