Revenue Commissioner Barry Willingham makes paying
property taxes less intimidating for our community
ALFA presented
“Farming Feeds”
(AGTAG) tee shirts
to tag staffs across
the state to encourage
sales of the Farming
Feeds license plates.
Pictured from left
to right are Wiley
Bailey of ALFA,
Deana Wilson, Jamie
Phillips, and Barry
Willingham.
offices to ensure appropriate tax classes are
applied to their properties.
Getting to know these rules is one way
seniors and all taxpayers can benefit
from conversations with the staff in the
Cullman Revenue Commission office.
(Additionally, a complete resource for
taxpayers is the comprehensive website, www.
cullmanrevenuecommissioner.com.) Revenue
staff members are prepared to explain a
variety of subjects, from handicap parking
tags and placards to the over-age 65 homestead
exemptions for primary residences. The office
wants to take the worry and stress out of the tax
process with friendly, helpful and informed staff.
One of Willingham’s efforts to raise
the bar for quality customer service was
implementation of staff cross-training between
motor vehicle and property tax assessing and
collecting staff shortly after taking office. Then
in 2016, a complete office renovation removed
the wall separating the motor vehicle staff from
the property tax staff. A new bank teller style
system was implemented that same year, along
with a customer queuing system to reduce the
time customers are required to wait to visit the
next available staff member. Willingham also
implemented a new computer system in 2016
to reduce the time to complete any transaction.
Customers often comment on how fast they
can complete their tax business and return to
their “real” lives.
Formal training, in addition to on-the-job
training, ensures staff members understand
the latest rules, regulations and methods for
property taxation.
All mappers and appraisers attend formal
education classes to ensure tax maps and
property appraisals meet the requirements of
the Tax Plan of Alabama 1975. Since property
is reappraised on an approximately four-year
reappraisal schedule, it’s important that all
staff members are current on their training
and certifications. These staff members also
work with the Board of Equalization to resolve
any questions or disputes with regard to tax
appraised property values, and all questions are
addressed in a timely, professional manner.
CULLMAN COUNTY SENIOR MAGAZINE
SPRING 2020 | 5