The Lincoln County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to issue up to $2,500,000 in general obligation bonds for the building and equipping of the recreational centers, stadiums and parks.

Bob Allen, county attorney, wrote the resolution that was unanimously passed by the supervisors. The resolution will be published in the legals section of the Daily Leader once a week for three subsequent weeks.

A written protest with 20 percent or 1,500 signatures, whichever is less, of qualified voters must be filed by Sept. 2 at 9 a.m. If a protest is filed, the resolution will then appear on a ballot for voters to decide.

If no protest is filed, the resolution will go into effect. The board will discuss and direct the issuance of the bonds at the board meeting on Sept. 2 or at a subsequent meeting. The board will be able to issue bonds for two years after Sept. 2.

Terry Lynn Watkins appeared before the board in reference to Lot 38 on Quail Run Drive. The property has been for sale since March 2010. It had been valued at $25,000, but she has been unable to sell it at that price. She said she met last year with workers in the tax assessor/collector’s office, at which point they lowered the appraisal to $14,000. When Watkins told Rita Goss she would ask for a refund for the previous three years property tax based on the property value, Watkins said the office returned her property’s appraisal to $25,000.

Mason Smith, real property appraiser for the county, said he agreed the value should be lowered to $14,000 but voiced concern over the refund.

“If she’s going to get a refund for the last three years which is entitled to her by law, y’all can give it to her. Then we need to give it to everybody who comes in here and gets a reduction,” he said. “Her situation is very similar to others that come in here and talk to me about their assessment.”

Smith also said if someone comes in and his or her appraisal is increased, the tax office does not then go back and charge the owner for the previous years.

Rita Goss, Lincoln County tax assessor/collector, was unavailable for comment.

The board of supervisors voted unanimously to have the land returned to the $14,000 value. Allen said he would look at the law and advise them in reference to the refund.

In other business, the board approved training conferences for elections, coroner’s office and sheriff’s department.

They elected to renew the beaver control program at $7,500 per county for the year running from Oct. 1, 2014, to Oct. 1, 2015. In the past, the Pearl River Basin Development District has reimbursed $4,000.