Although about $11 million difference was found with her figures, Yazoo County Tax Assessor Denise Robertson said the county’s total assessed value figures were not incorrect on her end. She said she based her figures on “incorrect amounts” provided by Tax Collector Tommy Irvine.
But Irvine said Robertson’s statement was not true, adding that he told her the figures she desired to use were not correct.
Bruce Templeton, a former appraiser who assisted during former tax assessor Beverly Ladner’s tenure, was asked by the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors to check Robertson’s figures. His findings showed a total assessed value of $233,407,298.
Robertson’s previous report showed a total assessed value of $222,608,883.
The $10,798,415 million dollar difference was a relief to county leaders, who were fearful that the enormous loss Robertson claimed would have led to a hefty tax increase within Yazoo County.
When county leaders first questioned the significant drop during last month’s meeting, Robertson said it was due to Covid.
But Robertson again addressed the figures during Monday’s county board meeting. She shifted the blame on Irvine this week.
“I am highly appalled at the lack of professionalism and the amount of lies that have been relayed to members of this community about me,” Robertson said. “I fully expect this issue to be rectified in a professional manner immediately, including an updated and more accurate article in The Yazoo Herald.”
Robertson said she based her figures on what was provided to her by Irvine.
“Tommy Irvine provided this document to me containing inaccurate information, which resulted in the incorrect numbers which I provided to you,” she said. “Tommy Irvine provided the incorrect amount of $222 million dollars for automobiles. With that information along with other data, my staff and I performed, in accordance with the law, a tax assessor report which resulted in the $13 million drop in assessed value.”
The Yazoo Herald contacted Irvine, who was not present at this week’s meeting. He said he was shocked at Robertson’s statement.
“That’s not true,” Irvine said. “I can’t believe she would say that. She requested figures from the wrong dates, June 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020. I told her those were not the correct dates, but rather that she needed to work with the dates of July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. I provided both of those reports to her, explaining which one was the correct dates to use. She told me she was not going to use the (correct dates) because it didn’t match her figures. She made that decision, not me. I explained to her which figures to use, the correct ones.”
During Monday’s meeting, Robertson said she was also asked by the Board of Supervisors to decrease the assessed values on some companies in the amount of $5 million dollars.
“I asked this board had they ever experienced a pandemic before,” Robertson said. “The pandemic forced businesses to close and new business not to open. My job is for me to report to you the numbers that have been given to me. Each department that reports to me is responsible for delivering accurate numbers to me.”
“But to hold me accountable for someone else’s work, I didn’t feel was fair,” she continued. “This board has not been performing its duties for over 26 years. Chancery Clerk Quint Carver and County Administrator Donna Kraft have not been performing their duties in 14 years. which is the real reason you have to hire Bruce Templeton to cover your behinds, not mine.”
However, Irvine said he told Robertson the figures she desired to use were not within the correct time frame. He said she insisted on using those figures because “they matched hers.”
Robertson said she hopes everyone repents of their “manipulative and vile attacks.”
“I know you do not want me serving as Yazoo County’s tax assessor,” she said. “I implore you to ask Him to forgive you because your vision has been impaired. My assignment from God is to help save Yazoo County, while you choose to throw my under an 18-wheeler.”
But following Robertson’s statements, Irvine said he felt she attempted to “throw him under the bus.”
“She said she was going with the figures from June 1 to June 1, which I explained weren’t correct,” Irvine said. “She made that decision. She used figures I told her were not correct.”
Robertson said she prays the “devil’s influence” will be wiped from county businesses.
“Have mercy on Yazoo County, this board, the county administrator, the chancery clerk, the tax collector and especially The Yazoo Herald Managing Editor Jamie Patterson, who does not follow basic journalism, accuracy, impartiality, fairness and public accountability,” Robertson concluded.
