Murfreesboro, TN - It's always important for media to cover all sides of the news, and let the public draw their own conclusions. Here are Property Assessor Rob Mitchell's thoughts on accusations that have been made.
Dear Citizens of Rutherford County,
I am writing to address the recent concerns raised regarding the Rutherford County Assessor’s Office. We appreciate the oversight provided by the Division of Property Assessments, I want to assure you of our unwavering commitment to fair, equitable, and uniform assessments.
Our office has always valued our strong relationship with the Comptroller’s Office and the Division. We take any identified deficiencies seriously and are actively working to implement corrective measures. However, it is important to note that challenges such as staffing shortages and a lack of adequate financial support have contributed to some of the issues raised.
As Rutherford County continues to be one of the fastest-growing counties in Tennessee, it is unreasonable to expect our office to operate with the same staffing levels as a decade ago. A report from 2020 (attached) highlighted a significant deficiency in the number our appraiser staff. This deficiency has only become more pronounced as the county's population and property values have increased.
Despite these challenges, I want to emphasize that there has been no deliberate attempt to manipulate assessments. The Comptroller’s report has found no evidence of this.While they do express concerns of office deficiencies, they uncovered no evidence of deliberate acts.
We are dedicated to building trust and ensuring that our assessments meet both statutory requirements and the highest standards of integrity. We welcome the continued support and guidance of the Division of Property Assessments, the support of our citizens and greater financial support from our commission and mayor as we strive to improve our operations and address any outstanding concerns.
Rob Mitchell
Assessor of Property
Rutherford County Tennessee
319 North Maple
2nd Floor Suite 200
Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37130
615-898-7750
