State revokes Fulton assessor’s appraiser’s license
A state regulatory board has ruled that one of the people charged with placing tax values on properties throughout Fulton County isn’t fit to appraise residential real estate.
The Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board voted unanimously today to revoke Donald Johnson’s professional appraiser’s license. Johnson is one of five members of the Fulton County Board of Assessors, which decides the fair market values of homes, businesses and land lots throughout the county. Those values determine how much taxpayers get billed.
The state accused Johnson of incompetence, negligence and falsifying documents in several appraisals for private clients during the height of the housing bubble. With today’s vote to yank his license, the appraisers board rejected a recommendation from a state Administrative Law judge to suspend his license for six months, fine him $2,000 and require him to take seven hours of coursework on how to appraise properties.
Johnson can appeal the board’s decision to a Fulton County Superior Court judge.
About the Author
Johnny Edwards, a member of the AJC’s investigative team, covers state and local government and private sector regulation.
