Commissioners select Wampler-Eanes for $332K

COLUMBUS — Polk County has hired the same company that performed the 2017 property revaluation to do the upcoming one for 2021.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday and approved a bid from Wampler-Eanes for $332,300.

Wampler-Eanes performed the last property revaluation that was effective Jan. 1, 2017, with Polk County Tax Administrator Melissa Bowlin recommended them over another company, with a lower bid of $285,000.

Bowlin said the 2017 property revaluation was successful, with no appeals going to the property tax commission in Raleigh. She also said Wampler-Eanes is now familiar with the county and with the county’s software, and makes personal trips to properties instead of looking at geographical information system data from somewhere else to appraise properties.

Polk County decided in recent years to do property revaluations every four years instead of every eight years. The state requires revaluations at least every eight years.

Polk County officials changed to every four years in order for the changes in property values to not be as drastic.

During the last property revaluation, most properties decreased or stayed the same, but many properties near the Tryon International Equestrian Center increased by up to 300 percent.

Commissioners tabled approving the bid earlier this month to include some attorney recommendations in the contract.

Bowlin said Monday she is still recommending Wampler-Eanes.

“I’m looking forward to another successful one for 2021,” Bowlin said.

Commissioner Ray Gasperson asked if the county would have to hire additional staff by going with Wampler-Eanes for the revaluation.

“If you went with a firm that did it more remotely, it appears you would have to have additional staff,” Gasperson said.

Bowlin said with Wampler-Eanes, the county will not have to hire additional staff. She said with another company the county would likely have to hire two more staff members to accomplish the revaluation.

Wampler-Eanes will likely begin preliminary work on the revaluation soon. The new property values will be effective on Jan. 1, 2021.