Candidates for Tax Commissioner speak at Kiwanis

Published 12:24 pm Monday, October 21, 2024

Kiwanis hosted candidates for tax commissioner on October 18. Mireo J. Harris gave a self-introduction. “For those that do not know me, I’m Mireo J. Harris, resident of Sumter County, graduated in the 2008, Americus Sumter High School.” Harris told how he was a local pastor in Mount Salem Baptist Church and Green Grove Baptist Church. “I’ve been a local pastor here for over 12 years.” He also mentioned being a manager at Dollar Tree for twelve years, along with experience with the City of Americus in the tag department and finance. He told how many people in the community also knew him from paying water bills.

Harris described himself as hands on and active in the community. “I’m always in the community. In my early years I volunteered at the Rec department, worked with the youth. One thing that I learned about this office, as I talk to people, a lot of people don’t know what the tax commissioner [does], especially young people in the community.”

Harris told how he wanted to educated the community on the tax commissioner’s role and local government. “A lot of times people get passed down stuff, children, and they lose it, and most of them don’t know you’ve got to pay taxes on it. And they’re not educated on that.”

He told how in many instances, individuals who inherited property were unaware they owed taxes. Harris stated he desired to work with people to enable them to keep their house and property, giving the citizens a chance to pay their taxes and remaining fair.

Leah Watson, the interim Tax Commissioner, also spoke. “I’m a lifelong resident of Sumter County. I’ve been in public service for over 40 years. I worked with the city of Americas from 1979 to 2002. I actually started when I was in high school, and after high school, was offered a full time position as a meter reader reporter.” She told of working her way up to becoming a personnel specialist, leaving in 2002.

After a stint in the private sector, she began work for the Board of Commissioners, starting as a payroll specialist, and working as an HR director and then with the Tax Commissioner’s office. “I love working with the public. I love the public.”

Watson corrected misconceptions about the Tax Commissioner’s office. “We do not set millage rates. We do not set garbage fees. We do not set fire fees. We just collect what is set. We get the brunt, but that’s okay, that’s our job.”

Watson listed an accomplishment as Tax Commissioner. “During my tenure as the tax commissioner, I’ve been able to work with the county administrator and the finance department to determine a budget for the tax Commissioner’s Office.”

She talked about her experiences with the public. “Normally when you have a tax sale, and their name’s in the paper or there’s properties posted, you have a lot people come in, not understanding they can make arrangements, but we’ve made a lot of arrangements for people this year to pay their taxes and educate them on the process.”