By Anna Grace Usery
Editor-in-Chief
anna.grace.usery@hottytoddy.com
The Lafayette County Tax Collector/Assessor is a two-part job. They are responsible to determine the value of property and then collect the taxes assessed for that property.
As Collector, they are responsible for the collection and settlement of all ad valorem taxes on public utilities, real property and personal property. This includes registration of mobile homes and aircraft, business licenses, as well as, license plates, titles, use and sales tax on motor vehicles.
As also the Assessor, they are tasked with determining the existence of all taxable property, determine its value for assessment purposes and prepare a roll annually listing all properties in the county.
No Republican or Independent candidates are running for this position so the seat will be decided in the Democratic Primary election on Tuesday.
Incumbent Sylvia J. Baker, 53, is seeking reappointment to the Lafayette County Tax Collector/Assessor seat. As a Democrat, she has been elected for two terms – 2012-2015 and 2016-2019. Since May 1997, she has worked as Chief Deputy Assessor.
She is 1983 graduate of West Union Attendance Center. In 1998 she was certified by the state of Mississippi as an appraiser and collector of Revenue I by the MS Department of Revenue.
She hopes her 22 years of experience in the tax collector’s office will be attractive to voters. Her dependability and honesty in the job will be guaranteed when elected, she said.
“I want to keep real and personal property at fair market value for everyone and continue serving you as your honest, hardworking, dependable and experienced Lafayette County Tax Collector and Assessor,” she said.
Janice Downs Standord
Janice Downs Stanford is a lifelong resident of Lafayette County and was raised in the Abbeville community. She is married to Gerald Grimes Stanford and is the mother of two children, Chris Bennett and Beth Bennett Garner.
According to her campaign page, she is a member of the First Baptist Church of Abbeville where she sings in the church choir. She is retired with 25 years of service to the Lafayette and Oxford School Districts. She served as the transportation supervisor.
“My goal is to bring honest and dedicated leadership to the Office of Tax Assessor/Collector for Lafayette County,” she said on her website. “I plan to do this through experience, honesty and friendliness to the citizens of Oxford and Lafayette County.”
