Comments on: Revised DeKalb Property Tax Assessments Beginning to Show Up Online and in Mailboxes

By: ConcernedLongTermDecaurite

ConcernedLongTermDecaurite — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 14:47:08 +0000

According to the Dekalb County records in the CGLNA area in 2011 FOUR single family residential lots were sold for development.
The details of the sales are below
List Price Sale Price Closing Date Address Acres
$169,900.00 $135,000.00 11/18/11 238 Forkner Dr 0.53
$169,900.00 $110,000.00 11/18/11 236 Forkner Dr 0.53
$125,000.00 $70,000.00 8/18/11 303 Lansdowne Ave 0.22
$89,500.00 $55,000.00 3/4/11 223 Fairview Sr 0.15
These were level undeveloped lots. Notice the first 2 are side by side lots.

According to the comments made by the mayor and city manager “”The appraisers are attempting to adjust land values to more realistic(their words not ours) levels based on market conditions.” http://www.decaturmetro.com/2012/06/06/wait-until-july-2nd-to-appeal-1500-decatur-properties-to-be-reassessed-and-an-explanation/

By law the tax assessments are supposed to be based on 2011 sales in the same area, yet nothing justifies the land value increases being experienced by the CGLNA. However because of how the assessments are presented most people are not aware that the land value has increased substantially and therefore probably will not appeal the assessments. If they do not appeal the unreasonable land values then the land values will become permanent.

If the current assessments hold once the housing market recovers (and it will eventually) the taxes on the building will have extremely large increases in value. Add the increased land values to a similar increase in building value and taxes on the properties will increase exponentially.

Based on the information in the new revised assessment the land my house sits on (.29 acres) is worth MORE than an undeveloped 1.06 acres in the same area. The long term implications of accepting the greatly inflated land values will result in significantly higher taxes with no option to appeal since the land values will have been in place for more than a year.

By: DawgFan

DawgFan — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:35:22 +0000

Does anyone know if all of the re-assessments are complete? There is nothing on the tax commissioner’s site stating I have been or will be re-assessed, but I would like to know once that is final.

How hard would it be to draft a press release and put a copy on the website to let everyone know once they are done with re-assessments? The lack of communication is frustrating to say the least.

By: GM

GM — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 13:48:39 +0000

I wouldn’t worry. We got the online notation a week before we got anything in the mail, and that was before the mass re-assessment from last week.

By: At Home in Decatur

At Home in Decatur — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 12:15:37 +0000

To those with on-line re-assessments, i.e. the “BTA Change to Value – New Notice Mailed” note: Have you gotten the hardcopy notice in the mail yet? We haven’t and it’s making me nervous.

By: J_T

J_T — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 04:14:38 +0000

I will not pretend to know the correct answer to any exact degree. However, from what I understand, the county is installing a completely new appraisal system for next year. In fact, the folks in the appraiser’s office are being tested this week on the new system. In addition. they seem to understand that the whole land/building values are out of whack. Given the overall craziness in the distribution, I can’t believe that this is an intentional strategy to increase tax revenues (and if it was, it was a bad one). Unfortunately, we won’t know the real story until next year’s appraisals come out. In any event, I don’t think it’s worth getting too worked up over until we see what pans out next year. For now, I’ll be crossing all fingers and toes hoping that I’m not proven wrong!

By: Demanda

Demanda — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 20:46:19 +0000

By: Revenue Neutral Household

Revenue Neutral Household — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:27:16 +0000

This happened to us too. Purchase price last year was lower than the county assessment. First tax notice from the county was high – well over the sale price and last year’s assessment. Second notice from the county – assessment amount = sales price.
The only remaining question is whether to appeal the disproportionate land v. house assessments. But I don’t know what the benefit to appealing that would be. Previously, we lived in an expensive northern city. According to the tax assessirs there, my land was worth $500,000 but my house was only worth $50,000. Ha! LOL. But I guess this is how the county gets the most revenue?

By: Cuba Libre

Cuba Libre — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:27:51 +0000

Hmmm…only if you promise not to turn your whiskery little nose up at all the wine & cheese that will be served.