Assessors approve correction to 2025 digest after carrier data shows low utilization; two-year tax impact estimated at about $800,000

During the consent-agenda discussion the Glynn County Board of Assessors approved a correction to the 2025 real and personal property digest after staff reported additional operational data from a fiber-network owner.

Chief Appraiser Ryan Lunsford read a portion of a letter from the site's local manager, Hope Hogan, saying the network's average utilization in Glynn County is "only 17.51%," meaning more than 82% of capacity is unused. Lunsford said the carrier voluntarily provided operational data showing the assets became fully operational when fibers went into the ground, information the office had not included previously.

As a result, staff recorded a $51,174,301 increase in valuation for that account, bringing the corrected 2025 digest total for that property to $52,939,808 (the digest had previously shown $1,765,507 for that account). Lunsford told the board the adjustment yields an estimated combined tax impact of roughly $800,000 across two years after applying legal depreciation schedules and that the school board would receive about two-thirds of the additional revenue while the county would receive roughly one-third.

Board members asked staff about depreciation schedules, economic life assumptions and whether other carriers might raise similar issues; staff said they had reviewed the situation and recommended approval. The board voted to approve the correction by voice vote.

Why it matters: a large correction to taxable value for a high-dollar infrastructure account changes the county and school tax base and could be precedent-setting if other carriers provide operational data prompting similar adjustments. Staff described the carrier's cooperation as "being good stewards" of the community.