Politics & Government

Meet Gwinnett County's New Chief Deputy Tax Commissioner

Mike Sweigart, a member of the Peachtree Corners Rotary Club, recently sat down with us to talk about his new duties.

Long time Peachtree Corners Rotarian Mike Sweigart took over the reigns of Gwinnett County's Chief Deputy Tax Commissioner just a little over a month ago and is quickly settling into his new position overseeing the day to day operations of the Tax Commissioner's Office.

Sweigart was tapped for the position in May and took over for Richard Steele who moved into the Tax Commissioner's position when long-time Commissioner Katherine Meyer retired in the spring.

It was Meyer who referred him for the job, and one the former commercial real estate broker was quick to accept.

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"I've got to say coming here, the Tax Commissioner's office has enjoyed a good reputation," said Sweigart who had owned his own commercial real estate business prior to accepting his new duties.

Among the responsibilities of the Tax Commissioner's Office is collecting property taxes, processing homestead exemption applications, accessing and collecting ad valorem taxes for mobile homes as well as automobiles.

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And at the top of that list will be continuing to provide top notch service. "We are going to continue to emphasize customer service," said Sweigart.

Sweigart said part of the ongoing improvements the department will be implementing is enhancing the website and continuing providing surveys that citizens can take which the department will use to improve customer service even further.

"In the short time I've been here, I've been impressed with the high level of quality people who work in the Tax Commissioner's Office," he said.

Often just the mention of taxes and collections send shivers down the spines of many and since moving into the job Sweigart has taken some good-natured kidding from friends and business acquaintances, but he takes it in stride with a big grin.

An avid basketball fan, Sweigart hails from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana where he earned a B.B.A. in Finance and Accounting. He's been a resident of Gwinnett County for the past 29 years. He currently lives in Duluth with Meg, his wife of 34 years, they have two grown children and a 2-year-old grandchild.

Being a part of Rotary is "definitely a passion of mine," said Sweigart a member since 1998. He's held numerous positions including club president, the club director in charge of fundraising, assistant governor and most recently participated in the Rotary Club's Georgia Rotary Scholarship Program where he and his wife served as a host family for a young student from Italy for a year.

His focus now is on keeping Gwinnett's Tax Commissioner's Office humming along and responding to queries about the changes to property taxes this year. "We have a saying around here," said Sweigart with a smile, "problems are fixable, surprises are not."

Sweigart's job will be heading off any problems and avoiding any surprises.

"People have lots of questions about the new single billing implemented this year," he said. In past years property owners were given the chance to pay in two separate installments, this year property taxes will be due in full on November 15, 2011.

Of course, tax payers don't have to wait until the due date to pay, pointed out Sweigart. "We will accept early payments," he said with a good natured grin.


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