Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

PAGE 12A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. DECEMBER 29. 2016 Troglin retires following 30 years of service in tax office Retiring Pickens County Tax Commissioner Sharon Troglin is pictured surrounded by staff members at her surprise retirement party last week. Love your Babies. Remove Alcohol. 770-479-1322 Georgia Prohibition 1143 Debord Drive • Waleska, GA30183 parker30183@peoplepc. com 'Elite JeweCry Come shop our END OF THE YEAR 88.7% of property taxes collected so far for 2016 Pickens County Tax Commissioner Sharon Troglin said approximately $27.5 million out of the $31 million levied in property taxes has been collected, as of December 21st. “We ’re doing pretty good with that percent age, ” she said. “It seems to be a lot better that it used to be. Typically this time of year we nor mally would be at 65-70percent. ” Troglin credited the economy picking back up along with the convenience of credit card pay ments as helping boost collections. Sharon Troglin spent her last day as Pickens County Tax Commissioner Thursday after 30 years of service. Troglin said she was look ing forward to “not setting a clock” in her retirement and would miss everyone she has worked with through the years. Troglin became tax com missioner January 1, 2001 and served for 16 years. She worked in the tax office since October, 1986. Troglin said she would miss seeing the people who come into the tax office year after year. “You see old faces you’ve been familiar with through the years and I’11 miss seeing them as well as everyone I’ve worked with. I’ll miss just the routine of getting up and coming to work too I’m sure.” After 30 years in the tax office, Troglin has seen many changes, the biggest perhaps was the advent of computer ized records. “When I first worked in the tag office, everything was done by hand. There were no computers at that time. The first computers came in 1987 or 1988 and you had to sit down and enter all the prop erties in the computer. The tags weren’t done until a few years later on. It was nice once we got the information all entered into the system then we could pull things up quickly and the reports were easier.” In 2007, Troglin also oversaw the office accepting credit card payments for property and tag taxes. Troglin said the ability to pay with credit cards via tele phone or online made the process simpler for many folks, especially those in other states. “They could be two states away and make a payment by credit card instead of coming in or mailing a check,” she said. “It was really helpful for people and helpful to reduce traffic in the office.” During her tenure, the local tax office started taking sales tax payments for the de partment of revenue. “That way they didn’t have to go to Rome to pay it and that helped folks as well.” “I’ve seen it come from the old way to the way we are now and it’s a lot different. I’m glad I was able to be there for that.” Troglin said she also has the utmost confidence in the incoming tax commissioner, Darrin Satterfield. “I’ve got all the confi dence in the world in Darrin. He’ll make a good one. Peo ple of Pickens County are in good hands.” UP TO 65% OFF THE ENTIRE STORE (Now until January 1 st ) (706) 253-6576 Jasper Mountain Highlands Shopping Center 744 Noah Drive. Suite 105 Jasper, GA 30143 OWN DJ & DANCING • MECHANICAL BULL • MIDNIGHT BALL DROP • • PHOTO BOOTH • FIREWORKS* Conditions permitting Chamber of Commerce 706-692-5600 • City of Jasper 706-692-9100