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Rodney Morrow is the new Swain County tax assessor
With the retirement of Peggy Hyde last September after she was in her position for 18 years, Swain County starts 2023 with new leadership for its tax department and is about 5 months into splitting the department into the tax collection and tax assessment sides. April-Leigh Hampton is the new tax collector, and Rodney Morrow is the new tax assessor.
Tax collection
Hampton is a familiar face who has worked with Swain County since 2005. She began her career in local government as secretary for environmental health during the construction boom. When the boom slowed, she was shifted from that department and worked as the county receptionist and spent time with emergency management before landing in the tag office in 2011.
With the tag and tax office working side-by-side, Hampton was familiar to much of the ins and outs of tax collection.
“It’s a great work atmosphere,” she said.
A lot of Swain County residents know Hampton outside of the office, too, as she was born and raised in the county and graduated school here. She and her husband, P.D. Hampton, who works as a School Resource Office, have been married for 29 years and they have three children who are now grown and all live in the area. Their oldest is going into N.C. Highway Patrol and is based in neighboring Jackson County.
“We’re very fortunate all three are still here and working and doing well for themselves,” Hampton said.
She jokes she went from working as one of the least favorite people in the county at the tag office to “the most hated,” at the helm of the tax office.
While it’s true having to pay taxes isn’t something anyone relishes, it’s what keeps local government running.
“The money we collect is what pays for services,” Hampton said. “When you call 911, you want someone to respond. This is how we pay for their salaries, new equipment, through property ownership tax collection.”
She spoke highly of her coworkers, including Kayla Owle at the tag office and Kim Dossey and Beverly Anthony at the tag office.
As far as what to can expect for 2023, Hampton said, “We’re really going to concentrate on getting up with past due taxes. We don’t want your land; we want your money.”
Tax assessment
Rodney Morrow stepped into the newly created Swain County tax assessor position in August. He spent the majority of his 21-year government career with Department of Social Services in Cherokee County and then in Swain County.
“I wanted something different; I was ready for a change,” he said as to what interested him in the tax collector position.
Morrow has also had a parallel career as a pastor in North Carolina and is the current pastor for The Church of God in Waynesville. He also resides in Haywood County.
“This is the office were all the assessing is done,” he explained, with tasks including property revaluations, appeals and exemptions.
“Right now, we’re in the listing period for all personal and business property,” Morrow explained. The deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 31.
He credits his office staff, which includes Jessica Danner and Dawn Zalva, for things running smoothly.
Zalva, who has worked in the office for four years after starting with Swain County as a reception at the Sheriff’s Office, said the split for the offices has been a good move, providing more clarity between what each office does and allowing the assessors to focus on their deadlines.
She assures readers “there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes,” as far as assessing properties—from land and homes to boats and work vehicles.