JUNIOR TAYLOR & ELDEN CALLEN AGAINST TAX INCREASES IN MOGONGALIA CAUNTY (PART 5 of 8)

Mon County Residents Look For Answers In Reappraisal Process. If you want to schedule an appeal, you can call (304) 291-7257, (304) 291-7258, (304) 291-7259, (304) 291-7281, or (304) 291-7293 to set up an appointment.
It's been four days since residents in Mon County could start filing appeals with commissioners about the recent property appraisals.

"On Wednesday, a number of them showed up at the commission meeting to say they aren't happy about the process.

There have been a little less than 300 appointments set up for folks to talk to commissioners when they meet as the Board of Equalization and Review.

It's the first time county commissioners are involved with the reappraisal process.

The folks who showed up today had one common message, help!

"Please stand with me, let's stand together." Junior Taylor delivered that message when he lead when protestors showed up outside the Mon County Courthouse upset at the reappraisal process a little more than a month ago.

On Wednesday, they presented the County Commissioners with a list of about 500 signatures they've gathered who are also frustrated with the process.

"We as the citizens were upset, hurt, and angered by this," Junior Taylor says. "We wanted to fight back and present this and get onboard with the county commission that we could fight this together."

About 20 of them showed up and one by one voiced the problems they've experienced in the process.

"I've got four acres with nothing on it," Daybrook resident Leroy Barr says. "They valued it at $147,000."

County commissioners say they're glad they showed up because it allowed residents to hear the frustration they also have with the assessor and the job he's done.

"I think today (Wednesday) the message came out loud and clear,"

Folks who came to the meeting say Wednesday was a great help. They now have answers to their questions, and they have a clear direction as to where to head next.

"Eldon Callen, one of the commissioners said he would help me," Junior Taylor says. "We're going to present that to our state senator and house of delegates who will take it to the state."

At Wednesday's meeting, commissioners also expanded the time they'll schedule meetings to include hours during the evening."


Former Mountaineer mascot organizes tax protest http://www.thedaonline.com/The Daily Athenaeum)
A former West Virginia University Mountaineer mascot, Junior Taylor, has organized a protest against the recent property appraisal raises in Monongalia County.

The rally will be held today from noon to 1 p.m. at the Monongalia County Courthouse Square on High Street.

Taylor said concerned property owners were shocked to find their properties worth more than anticipated, causing taxes to rise.

"When I got my taxes in the mail, I talked to my family and a couple of friends, and I kind of got upset," Taylor said. "So, I found out where I could protest this. People are upset about it."

Taylor said the problem with the appraisals was that an outside firm, Tyler Technologies, has been running the appraisals instead of the Monongalia County Assessor, who is an elected official.

"Basically, they haven't done their jobs. They haven't really done assessments that well, and then they hired an outside company to come in and do their jobs," Taylor said. "They're supposed to come and knock on your doors and ask your permission to do this, and most of us don't even know they came.

"There's a lot of questions about how it was done and why it was done at this time."

Taylor said he has created a petition for those who cannot make it to the rally to sign.

"I've taken it to the senior centers to have their voices heard, as well," he said.

Taylor also made a Facebook group, "Stop the Property Tax Increase," to promote the rally. As of Thursday evening, 65 people had confirmed attending the event.

"If the taxes are going to go up, it's going to affect everybody, and it'll be passed down to the students," he said. "We want to get students involved."

Taylor has filed pre-candidacy papers to run for Monongalia County Commission in August 2012. According to a separate Facebook page, "Junior Taylor for Monongalia County Commission," he said he is running because he is a "concerned citizen."

"I think that the leaders hide things from us. I think they need to be more transparent with the people who voted them in," Taylor said.

Monongalia County Assessor Rodney Pyles was unavailable for comment.

Taylor was the Mountaineer mascot in 1975.

By Erin Fitzwilliam
The Daily Athenaeum http://www.thedaonline.com/

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