Lanier Commissioner Benny L. Ryan Appears Free of Conflict – Amid Property Tax Uproar: Conflicts of Interest – Part 3

By Carol A. Gasser Moore

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in a series examining ethics and governance in Lanier County. The series spotlights potential and actual conflicts of interest involving elected officials.

LANIER COUNTY, Georgia – As public frustration mounts over skyrocketing property taxes in Lanier County, District 1 Commissioner Benny L. Ryan finds himself under the same increased scrutiny as his fellow commissioners. Yet despite concerns swirling around the Board of Commissioners’ (BOC) handling of state-mandated property assessments, Ryan—new to political office and retired from his career as a heating and air conditioning serviceman—appears to be free of any professional conflicts of interest.

Lanier County District 1 Board

of Commoners member Benny Ryan

Ryan, who was elected in November 2022 and took office in January 2023, ran on a platform advocating for fiscal responsibility and low taxes. But just over a year into his term, residents are demanding answers after a 17-year lapse in property reassessments led to a sudden—and for many, painful—adjustment in their tax bills.

A recent investigation by the Lanier County News revealed that the BOC failed to conduct property reassessments every four years as required by Georgia law. Instead, assessments were only updated in 1988, 2003, 2007 and most recently in 2024, creating a significant gap in valuation oversight. The result: the hiring of a private firm at a cost of $75,000 to reevaluate over 5,000 property records and a wave of higher tax bills for residents.

“People are angry, and rightly so,” said one resident during a recent commission meeting. “But we also have to be fair. Commissioner Ryan didn’t create this mess—he inherited it.”

While public anger is widespread, it’s aimed at current and past county commissions – not Commissioner Ryan nor the entirety of the board.

“A conflict of interest happens when a public official’s private interests interfere with their public duties,” said an ethics expert consulted by the Lanier County News. “Based on what we know, that’s not the case here. Commissioner Ryan doesn’t appear to stand to benefit from these tax changes in any personal or professional capacity.”

What’s more, Ryan’s professional background is free of conflict. As a retiree with no ongoing business interests in the county, Ryan has no financial entanglements that could improperly influence his decision-making on the board.

Still, critics argue that Ryan and his fellow commissioners must answer for the broader issue: a failure of oversight that spans multiple administrations and has left taxpayers footing the bill.

“Even if he didn’t cause it, he’s part of the governing body now,” said another resident. “We expect him to fix it.”

As part of a broader series examining ethics and governance in Lanier County, the Lanier County News is spotlighting potential and actual conflicts of interest involving elected officials. Thus far, Ryan has not been found to have any such conflicts.

Transparency advocates stress that the real issue may not be individual wrongdoing, but systemic complacency. They’re calling for more rigorous oversight, improved communication with the public, and adherence to state mandates in the future.

For now, the spotlight remains firmly on the Board of Commissioners. And while Benny L. Ryan may not be at the center of the controversy, the choices he makes going forward will be closely watched.

Residents can follow developments by attending commission meetings or reviewing official documents published by the Lanier County Board of Commissioners at laniercountyboc.com.

 

 RELATED STORIES:

Conflicts of Interest – Part 2 –  https://www.laniercountynewsonline.com/2025/04/17/conflict-of-interest-concerns-can-arise-over-county-commission-chairmans-dual-role-as-bank-official/

Conflicts of Interest – Part 1 – https://www.laniercountynewsonline.com/2025/04/10/lanier-county-news-launches-series-of-conflicts-of-interest-in-local-government/

EDITORIAL:  What is a conflict of interest?  A journalist’s perspective https://www.laniercountynewsonline.com/2025/04/10/what-is-a-conflict-of-interest-a-journalists-perspective/