MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Tollison, Butler (38th), Fillingane, Hyde-Smith, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING LAFAYETTE COUNTY ASSESSOR/TAX COLLECTOR MARTHA H. THORNTON FOR 38 YEARS OF DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL SERVICE ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT.
WHEREAS, Lafayette County Assessor/Tax Collector Martha Thornton has announced she will not seek re-election following 38 years of dedicated and professional public service to the people of her county, 12 years of which were served as the Assessor/Tax Collector. She started to work at the Assessor/Tax Collector's office in 1973, and served under Ralph Roy from 1974 through 1999. She took office as Assessor/Tax Collector in 2000; and
WHEREAS, when Mrs. Thornton took office in 2000, Lafayette County had an assessed value of $175,308,879 and her office had seven employees. By 2010, the assessed value had increased to $476,790,115, reflecting the incredible growth of population and economic development in Lafayette County, which necessitated that her office staff be increased to nine employees; and
WHEREAS, under Martha Thornton's leadership, she took advantage of advances in technology by making the office records accessible to the public in the convenience of their office and homes. Appraisal records, property tax payments and tag renewals are available through Internet access, along with digital mapping, which she helped incorporate; and
WHEREAS, Martha's main goal has always been to provide the people of Lafayette County with the best professional and courteous service they deserve, and to work with the public to ensure appraised values used for tax purposes are accurate so that the tax burden is distributed fairly; and
WHEREAS, Martha Thornton was born in Oxford, Mississippi, and attended grade school at Taylor and graduated from Lafayette High School; and
WHEREAS, Martha Thornton's service has been marked by commitment to success and recognized leadership, sound judgment and fairness. She continues to thank the wonderful citizens of Lafayette County who have returned her to office in the past. She has set the highest standard in all her roles, as public official citizen and leader in Lafayette County and in the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Lafayette County Assessor/Tax Collector Martha H. Thornton for 38 years of dedicated professional service to the people of Lafayette County and the State of Mississippi on the occasion of her retirement and extend our best wishes to her on this occasion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Martha Thornton, forwarded to the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.