Kirk Crossing Residents Report County Assessor Has Admitted Error with Some Tax Assessments
Decatur Metro | June 1, 2012Delores sent along this note along with a note from a neighbor. It by no means settles anything, and seems to indicate that the County is still dealing with this as a piecemeal issue, which is sort of shocking since I haven’t heard or seen oone assessment yet that didn’t see huge increases/decreases in land/building values.
The County admits error with respect to some of the tax assessments. I live on Kirk Crossing and our entire street received the outrageous notices. A few of us were able to reach Joyce Lackey (the appraiser for our street) and Bryan Jennings (her supervisor). We were informed that there was an error and that we will receive revised assessments later this month. Not sure what other streets were affected. Likely Candler Oaks Drive and parts of Kirk Road near the Seminary were also affected.
Here’s a more detailed report from my neighbor:
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Yesterday, I called Joyce Lackey the woman listed on our Notice of Assessment as our “staff contact”. . . . [A]t 8:30 this morning she did call back and this is what she said. Every house on Kirk Crossing would be receiving a “re-evaluation” as all the houses had increased by at least $150,000 to $200,000. I reminded her that our increase was $270,000 and some were even higher but I digress. She acknowledged that there had been a problem with the numbers inputted in to our formula. So, the entire street will be receiving re-evaluations. They will be done by June 7th and will then go to the board to be signed off on. She didn’t think there would be a problem with that, it sounded like a formality. I asked her how this would be categorized, she said “this will be a re-evaluation”. Fearing the lose of our appeal process, I asked how that would work. She said that once this new evaluation goes out on June 7th or thereabouts, we would then have 45 days from the date of that evaluation to appeal. NO LOSS of APPEAL!
A friendly word of advice: put on your calendar right now the deadline to appeal the notice you have already received, and DO NOT MISS IT, unless and until you actually have a new assessment in your hand that specifically says you now have nother 45 days to file an appeal. If you miss the appeal deadline you are stuck, even if you say you were expecting a new one to come in the mail.
Another thing: with an unreasonable assessment in hand, you may be in a good position to get an even lower value by appealing now than by waiting for a new, lower valuation later. I can’t recall the specific numbers offhand, but if you appeal and the county is found to have overvalued your property by a certain percentage (I think it is 20%), they not only have to reduce your assessment but have to pay all the costs of the appeal. The County does not want to do this.
They made a huge mistake on my assessment last year, valuing my house at more than twice what I paid. I appealed very quickly. The County soon called me, and it was apparent that they wanted to settle the appeal quickly by offering me an agreed-upon, steeply reduced valuation. Point being, they will know when you have them over a barrell.
Something to keep in mind.
RE “…..but have to pay all the costs of the appeal”: What costs of the appeal? I’m going to appeal but thought it was just a matter of filling out paperwork. Loss of work if one goes before the Board of Appeals? Person-hours spend on paperwork? Legal fees?
While I would expect costs through the BOE stage to be fairly minimal, they might include copying, preparing exhibits to show the BOE, and other things that are necessary for you to present your appeal. As to whether legal fees are included, I am not sure. I looked at that last year, but now I can’t recall.
If the BOE rejects your appeal you can appeal to the Superior Court, and then there would be all the costs associated with a civil lawsuit.
Not to mention that the County has to put up with the trouble and expense of your appeal, which they don’t want, especially if they know they can’t win on the merits. For some of these folks with absurd valuations, the County will be embarassed in an appeal proceeding, which heightens their incentives to settle.
If you go in front of the BOE there is no cost but if you go to the next level there is a cost involved. Usually most people just go to the BOE.
Re: “since I haven’t heard or seen oone assessment”
one
Our property’s assessment is unchanged from 2011. However, we are but a handful of city residents in the 30033 zip code.
My family’s went up enough that I’m suspicious and will be appealing. My parents live in the 30033 zip and theirs went up by $100,000 this year, which is just ridiculous and can’t possibly be true. Needless to say, they’ll also be appealing.
My home assessment in 30030 went up 63%. Too bad they couldn’t get it right the first time. I’m sure this will be a nightmare for an already stretched staff!
This seems to be a city-wide collosal error. Can’t help but think it is deliberate and they’re hoping lots of us forget to appeal in time so they can rake in the $$$. Other than asking for it to be appealed, what else should a homeowner do, what other documentation should be submitted to substantiate the fact that these new assessments are absurdly out of touch with reality?