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Boise goes to court to lower tax bill Boise has filed an appeal in Clarke County Circuit Court seeking to reduce its taxes by reducing $297 million in appraised values of certain parts of the Jackson paper mill. The corporate owner of the mill, Boise White Paper, LLC, filed the civil suit last week, apparently on the last day that it could appeal a decision of the Clarke County Board of Equalization. "In support of its appeal, Boise states that the appraised value affixed by the Board [of Equalization and Adjustment] does not accurately reflect the true fair market value of the subject property," the filing reads in part. Boise's legal filings state that Clarke County Revenue Commissioner mailed notices of changes in assessments Aug. 25. Boise contested and a hearing was set before the Board of Equalization and Adjustment, a panel that hears challenges to tax bills. Revenue Commissioner Jay Duke said he acts as secretary to the board, which normally consists of three Clarke County citizens. Joe Merida is a member and chairman. One of the positions was vacant and the other member, Elma Averett, resigned before the board held any of its fall hearings. He won the Democratic nomination for a county commission seat in June and the general election earlier this month. The Alabama Department of Revenue appointed two of its employees to serve as members for the hearing, as is permitted by law. Duke said that no changes have been made in the appraised values from recent years and none were made this past year. However, Boise officials wanted the values reduced from about $297 million to just over $118 million, about a 40 percent decrease. Duke said his office tried to work out a compromise with Boise before the board heard the case but without success. He would not elaborate on the matter because of the pending suit. The Board of Equalization rejected Boise's lower values on a 3-0 vote and Boise appealed to the next level, circuit court. Boise's court suit itemizes the current assessments on various parcels of property, including the J3 paper machine, but does not suggest what it thinks the assessments should be. Attorneys representing Boise could not be reached for comment this week. Boise, including the Jackson operations, was sold in October 2004 and that sale is apparently part of the reason for the reduction request. This is the first tax year since the sale. This is also the first year in which longtime tax abatements are starting to come off of the Jackson mill. They are staggered over a period of time because they apply to different parts of the mill, Duke explained. Alabama law allows certain exemptions as incentives for businesses and industries. The only taxes that cannot be abated are school taxes. Boise pays about $1 million in taxes in Clarke County. A specific figure on the tax value of the property in question was not available at presstime. The 34 parcels in question will have to be examined separately and tallied for a total.
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