Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:20:44 -0500
From: Mark Stinson
Subject: making things personal
I have before and will again praise the people in the tax department. When they took over the water bill collections I no longer had issues with the water department. I have often blasted the water department and don’t foresee a time I wont with the quality of water I pay so much for. When I set out to understand and that is the key word UNDERSTAND my new tax values I wanted answers. I now understand what the situation was when I made my call to the tax department.
The first thing I want to make clear is we all fear what we don’t understand. That’s the core of the upset over the new tax values. I have been blessed with responses and I spoke to a real estate agent that helped me to understand my new value is on target and why. There has to be better ways to keep things consistent. We as a group respond well to consistency. If you have one home go from 68k to 72k and another go from 148k to 290k ,, there is no consistency there but methods in place cause that to happen.
With that said , if you feel your value is too high I would suggest you speak to a good real estate agent or do as I did after speaking to one. I went online to different real estate sites to see what’s selling and comparable homes are being sold at my new value. I feel its a little high but wont argue my new tax value. I plan to argue the tax rate which most real estate agents agree is to dang high for this county.. If your home value is elevated to high get copies of similar home sales and voice your opinion by appealing your value. Make sure you are educated first and make an intelligent appeal. The thing to remember is you are dealing with people trained to do their job. I have tried to keep from being upset at a particular individual as I know they are doing just that.
My goal was to understand this mess. I have a grandmother upset with her new value and I want to try to explain it to her in a way she will understand. I have neighbors and friends hot over the new values too. I am redirecting their frustration to the correct source which is the county commissioners. They set the tax rate and that’s the real issue not the new values. I encourage everyone to address this the same way. The tax department is one of the few departments in County government I have delt with that I feel does an excellent job. They don’t set the rate so I feel we need to light a fire under who does. I have the match does anyone want to join me ? 😉
Over the last few years I have tried to improve my writing skills and ability to communicate what my point is. I don’t mind criticism anymore as its how I learn and improve my communication skills here. I just want to make a positive difference not throw mud , or get someone in hot water unless they really deserve it. I really do appreciate responses to my post’s
Goodnite Mark 🙂