Many counties and municipalities are starting to approve the new debt setoff bill, passed by the state legislature.
Acting Board Attorney Jimmy Powell said the bill is similar to when a person owes for back child support. “They can garnish federal and state income tax,” he said. “It’s kind of like that, but this one is only limited to state income tax returns.”
He said the outstanding debt qualifies if it has been liquidated, meaning it’s been before a judge and there has been a judgement in the case. Powell said he wasn’t sure if garbage bills – which are always a topic on the Carroll County Board of Supervisors agenda – were included but delinquent ad valorem taxes were.
“I’m not sure how that would work with the sale, but they are included,” Powell said.
According to the bill, the taxes cannot be less than $50, and it cannot be more than the resident’s state income tax.
Also, Jackie L. McKinney appeared before the board about hiring practices. She wanted to know how people are hired in Carroll County and how former Chancery Clerk candidate Christy Noah was hired to work as a deputy clerk in Circuit Clerk Durward Stanton’s office. before the board about hiring practices. She wanted to know how people are hired in Carroll County and how former Chancery Clerk candidate Christy Noah was hired to work as a deputy clerk in Circuit Clerk Durward Stanton’s office.
Noah is replacing Brenda King, who is retiring at the end of October. However, Stanton did not answer McKinney’s question.
“I don’t have to answer it, and I’m not going to,” Stanton said.
McKinney said she originally thought Noah was replacing newly-elected Southern District Judge Tinesha Erve-Earnest, but said she apologized for that statement when she realized she was wrong. But, she stated that Stanton needed to hire another black person to fill Earnest’s position.
Tax Assessor Wilton Neal also spoke to the board. He first spoke about Matt. 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” He said it stuck out to him while reading a book and told Supervisors to let cooler heads prevail when someone lashes out at you.
“Is that what you wanted?” Rickie Corley asked.
“No, there’s something else I forgot,” Neal said. He said that his staff in Vaiden told him there was a letter on the door that stated that he was not certified to do appraisals and hasn’t been certified since 1992. He said she was right, he was certified then and had not recertified up until he retired the first time.
He said he didn’t recertify when he came out of retirement and was elected again because his salary was what he made eight years ago. Neal said because his deputy clerk Tammy Inmon and a former clerk both kept up with their certifications, he doesn’t have to be certified.
Neal said he texted McKinney and asked her if she did it or if she knew who did it and Neal said she didn’t respond.
“And I want Mrs. Jackie McKinney to be honest and tell me if she did it or not?” Neal asked.
McKinney said that she found out that the last time Neal was certified was 1992 and that he had to be recertified every year. She said she found out he was not, and she did post the letter on the door, and she did post it on the door.