Alabama Department of Revenue officials used false information in an Aug. 20 report critical of ad valorem assessment procedures in Baldwin County and strong-arm tactics in an attempt to assume control of the Baldwin County Revenue Department, according to Revenue Commissioner Phil Nix.

During a 20-minute press conference Friday at his Bay Minette office, Nix also said he was “disappointed” that Baldwin County Commissioners and the Baldwin County Legislative Delegation did not give him the opportunity to refute the report’s findings.

“I agreed to let the state do the report and I knew it was a way to sway for a state takeover,” Nix said. “The Thursday before the release of the report, ADOR said the document could go away if I agreed to a takeover. I was appalled they would give me an ultimatum.”

Nix said his 10-page response to the report will be sent to the ADOR for review.

He earlier said his criticism of the newly installed statewide yearly appraisal system was a point of contention among legislators and state officials who endorsed the program to increase tax revenues.

State Rep. Steve McMillan, R-Orange Beach, earlier said he and other members of the Baldwin County Legislative Delegation were most concerned about assessment fairness and equality for taxpayers, not additional revenues.

The ADOR report listed numerous deficiencies in Nix’s assessment procedures, including appraisal methodology, lack of staff training and supervision, and a staff which lacked tools and equipment to do their job.

Nix said Friday that the state used skewed assessment figures for the report, provided “false information” concerning staff morale and lack of training and equipment.

He also said report references to Baldwin appraisers using Jefferson County building index data was false.

“The quote in the report that we used Jefferson County building index factors is completely wrong,” Nix said. “We used Baldwin County data.”

Release of the report, coupled with a $35 million increase in tax bills, prompted more than 18,000 individual tax appeals and a collective 3,000-plus appeal representing the Fairhope Single Tax Colony.

Last month, Baldwin County Commission chairman Wayne Gruenloh signed a “memorandum of understanding” with ADOR, pledging appraisal and mapping funding under the direction of the ADOR, as well as special training for compliance and computation of assessment and equalization ratios.

Nix said Friday he refused to sign the agreement, which he interpreted as a state takeover attempt.

“My goal is to achieve equalization and fairness,” Nix said. “I will work with ADOR and will present a report asking for assistance, but I am the elected official.

“If property owners want taxes to go down, they should petition on the state and local level to lower millage rates. I am accurately following state guidelines and our assessments are accurate.”

ADOR officials were not immediately available for comment.

Meanwhile, chief appraiser Darrell Robinson said he has requested two ADOR appraisers to join eight county appraisers to review each appeal. That process starts Tuesday.

“We will take the time to meet them as soon as we can and do the best we can,” Robinson said.

Appraisers will meet appeal holders at revenue department offices or perform on-site reviews at the discretion of the taxpayer, Robinson said.

Following informal meetings with appraisers, property owners may opt to present their case to the Baldwin County Board of Equalization, which should begin hearings in mid October. The next step is Baldwin County Circuit Court filings.

Appeals trickling in after the Aug. 15 deadline will be presented to the Baldwin County Board of Equalization to determine if they will be heard.