MOULTRIE — When Georgia voters approved two constitutional amendments Nov. 5, one of them included a stipulation that every property in the state must be appraised at least every three years.

The amendment, which was the first of two on the ballot, primarily provides for a state-wide homestead exemption that limits increases in the assessed value of homesteads and this addition as well:

“Said title is further amended in Code Section 48-5-264, relating to designation and duties of chief appraiser, by adding a new subsection to read as follows: ‘The chief appraiser shall ensure that every parcel in his or her respective county is appraised at least every three years.’”

When the annual property tax assessments went out in June, Colquitt County Commissioners received calls from angry constituents about the increase in their taxes.

At the July commission meeting, Colquitt County Board of Tax Assessors Chief Appraiser Jim Mac Booth was questioned about the increase. During the meeting, Commissioner Mike Boyd asked what percentage of properties are appraised each year — was it 33% as the state recommends?

Booth replied that he didn’t have the manpower. He said that they physically appraised probably 10%.

“So, it takes ten years to make the rounds, would that be right?” asked Boyd and Booth replied with their current staff, it would.

In August, Booth gave the commissioners an update on the property tax appeals that were coming in, and the question of the frequency of appraisals was raised again.

During the meeting, Commissioner Paul Nagy asked, “And what should we actually be doing? If we are really taking care of the homeowners and taxpayers, what should we be doing?”

“We would need to be able to see a third of the county every year. Do all the splits, sales, appeals … permits included in that,” Booth replied. “There’s not enough hours in the day to see a third of the county every year.”

After the amendment passed on Election Day, County Administrator Chas Cannon, said in an email, that there were certainly going to be times, based on a lack of personnel or labor, that a county was not going to be able to get around to a third of all its parcels in a single year.

“I’m sure there will be exceptions. And I think the state may have to allow some exceptions, if they are unable to enforce it. Or they would allow some mapping technology to be used in place,” said Cannon, who also serves as a state representative.

He also said that he would be keeping an eye on how the state planned to work with counties to enforce the new law.