After 14 years on the Dawson County Tax Assessor's Board of Directors, Sara Halstead is retiring at the end of this year.

She reported for her last board meeting Monday morning unaware her colleagues had planned a retirement party to follow the meeting.

"I'm so surprised," she said.

Board chairman John Stegall said the board will lose a wealth of knowledge and expertise with Halstead's departure, which will become official Dec. 31.

Halstead was appointed to the tax assessor board, which annually appraises at fair market value all real and personal property subject to taxation in Dawson County, in August 1998. She also served six terms as chairman of the board.

At the time of her initial appointment, she was employed as a tax assessor in Forsyth County, where she worked for 14 years.

"I've enjoyed my work," she said.

Halstead recently completed the master gardener program and plans to spend her retirement enjoying herself.

"I have some volunteering I'd like to do in the community," she said.