Lee County moves another step closer to issuing long-awaited property tax refunds

LEESBURG — Lee County commissioners approved another administrative step last week to move the county closer to issuing refunds for property taxes that were overcollected during the 2025 tax year, as officials continue working through the final stages of the refund process.

The Lee County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted an amendment to a joint resolution with the Office of the Tax Assessor governing how erroneously collected ad valorem taxes will be refunded and how any unclaimed funds will ultimately be handled under Georgia law.

County Manager Scott Addison described the amendment as a housekeeping measure that updates the county’s original resolution to ensure the Tax Commissioner’s Office follows state statutory requirements for unclaimed refunds.

“Our original resolution had that the money would be returned to us in 18 months if it wasn’t paid out or the checks were not cashed,” Addison told commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting. “Now this authorizes (Tax Commissioner) Wendy (David) to follow Georgia state law with how the money is handled and turned over to the Department of Revenue with the statutory timeframes.”

The board first approved the joint resolution during its June 9 meeting, authorizing the David’s office to begin the refund process after officials discovered taxpayers had been erroneously overcharged during the 2025 tax year. At that meeting, the tax commissioner told commissioners that any money remaining after the refund process is completed must be remitted to the Georgia Department of Revenue rather than retained by the county.

During last week’s meeting, Addison said the Tax Commissioner’s Office continues working on calculations related to motor vehicle refunds, which require separate processing.

He said the office expects to provide cost estimates and invoices needed for the county to authorize payments before refund checks can begin.

“She should have us the cost, the quote and invoice this week so that we can pay her and then she could start the refund checks,” Addison said.

Officials said processing the motor vehicle portion of the refunds has required additional time because of the volume of individual transactions involved.

Earlier this month, during a public forum, a resident asked when taxpayers could expect refunds to be issued. David estimated at that time that refunds would likely be distributed by the end of the summer.

Tuesday’s action does not establish a mailing date for refunds but removes another procedural step before payments can begin.

County officials did not announce the total dollar amount to be refunded or how many refund checks remain to be processed.