BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Baldwin County Revenue Commissioner Phil Nix said Friday he would not seek re-election due to lack of support from state revenue officials and local and state Republican Party members, who are “more interested in money” than property taxes based on fair market value.

“I will finish out my term, but I am just tired of not being supported,” Nix said. “I will continue to show that this whole mess was all about money.”

Dramatic increases in property tax bills and an Aug. 20 Alabama Department of Revenue report critical of assessment procedures in Baldwin County helped fuel the filing of more than 18,000 appeals in 2007.

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.

The state has taken control of current property assessment, while Nix is providing support.

Nix countered that the ADOR report was prompted by state officials who said properties were undervalued.

“First, they said we were not collecting enough money and that is how this all started,” Nix said Friday. “But we met their guidelines and now we are collecting too much money and not treating everyone the same.

“They changed their tune. As this year and next year goes on, property owners will not see values drop as state officials say they will,”

Nix, who will leave office in October 2009, said the Baldwin County Commission, which assisted financially with the revamped appraisal staff, was “coming around and saw the light”, referring to accurate appraisals and tax bills.

“Some people in the ADOR and the Republican Party, local and statewide, weren’t coming around,” he said. “They are more interested in money than supporting me or solving problems as far as annual assessments.”

Baldwin County Republican Party chairman Don McGriff said Friday that Nix “had his back against the wall and been treated unfairly” by ADOR.

“”I have defended him and party members have defended him and blamed the tax increases on the state,” McGriff said. “I have heard no negative comments from party members and I think his assessments are accurate based on state guidelines and that will come out this year,” McGriff said, referring to new evaluations currently being compiled under state controls.

Nix has earlier stated that annual appraisals were not fair to property owners. He said he accurately followed assessment procedures, but complained to state officials that sales-based evaluations were unfair.

“It is a fact that these state guidelines, based on sales, caused us to over-appraise 39 percent of the properties in Baldwin County,” Nix said. “In my opinion, which I have held for many years, the guidelines go against the Code of Alabama which states we should be at fair market value.

“I am adamantly opposed to the practices the state has required my office to follow and which results in the intentional over-appraisal of property.”

Nix said he may enter the computer field after leaving office, concentrating on creating software data bases.