Property Assessor Ballard is Sending Employees to the Beach

Property Assessor Phil Ballard wanted to send 5 employees to Cocoa Beach, Florida according to emails we received through an open records request. However, when he replied back he is sending 3 employees and says there will only be two rooms. However, the email we received through the open records request show a confirmation number for three rooms.

Ballard is sending the three employees to a tax policy class. They are Assessor employees not Trustee employees. They don’t collect tax, they assess property. Interesting that the curriculm sheet was updated on FRIDAY March 15, 2016 (the day before the open records request)

Updated course list, updated the day before my open records request

The location of the training is an oceanfront Hilton in early May 2016.

Training course brochure obtained through an open records request.

Training course brochure obtained through an open records request detailing the accommodations.

This training is being granted and obtained without any input from the Republican nominee for Property Assessor John R Whitehead. Whitehead is unopposed on the August 4, 2016 Knox Co General Election. Early Voting is from July 15-30, 2016. Whitehead bested Ballard’s hand picked successor and Ballard’s Chief Deputy  Jim Weaver by 73 votes and Andrew Graybeal in the March 1, 2016 Republican Primary.

Whitehead has not had the opportunity to accept resumes and/or applications by any or all the employees that desire to be employed in the Assessors office during 2016-2020 and no knowledge what the three persons responsibilities will be if they are retained in the Assessors office beginning September 1, 2016.