• By Todd Luck
• Posted Monday, May 19, 2025

Forsyth Tax Collector John Burgiss to retire

Forsyth County Tax Assessor and Collector John Burgiss will retire at the end of May after 31 years of service.

Burgiss started his career in property taxes in Alleghany County in 1992. He then transitioned to Forsyth County in 1994 and worked his way up as an appraiser, reappraisal coordinator and appraisal manager before becoming the county’s tax assessor and collector in 2011. Under his leadership, the Tax Department has maintained a collection rate of more than 99 percent for the last ten years.

“John will be sorely missed,” said County Manager Shontell Robinson. “He has been a tremendous asset to our county—respected for his ability to navigate challenging situations with skill and grace, and for the strong, collaborative relationships he’s built with staff, community partners, peers, and elected officials. His contributions have been invaluable, and while I may be biased, I truly believe he’s the best Tax Assessor/Collector in the state. We are incredibly grateful for his service and can’t say enough about the positive impact he’s made.”

During Burgiss’ tenure, the department started its customer service call center, worked through its collection processes to ensure they’re as fair and thorough as possible, and transitioned from internal tax software to the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) NC Property Tax System. Burgiss also helped create an automated sales comparison approach within the County’s tax system.

Burgiss is a member and past president of the NC Association of Assessing Officers, member of the Forsyth County GIS Steering Committee, and member of the NCACC’s NC Property Tax System Oversight Committee. He's a former NC instructor for the International Association of Assessing Officers. In 2023, John received the NC Assessor of the Year Award from the NC Association of Assessing Officers.

He’s a NC certified assessor and appraiser with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from UNC Charlotte. He holds a Residential Evaluation Specialist designation from the International Association of Assessing Officers.

“It has been an honor to serve Forsyth County and the public these past 31 years. I am grateful for the opportunities afforded me and have greatly enjoyed the wonderful support of the County Commissioners, management, staff and the public,” said Burgiss.?“It has certainly been a pleasure working alongside the many smart, caring and dedicated members of Tax Administration whom I will sincerely miss. I wish everyone the very best.”