THE PROBLEM

Some Check a Biz members have  been put on notice by the Ada County Assessor that their assessed property value for 2007 has been increased significantly.  Increases have ranged from 30%  to 40%, and even more in some cases. 

In the words of one Check a Bizzer:

Last year I had a major issue with our property taxes.  For the first time in 20 years, the Ada County Assessor drove me to research and appeal our taxes.  I could not believe what I found when I researched comparable assessments in our neighborhood.  They ranged from a low of $94 a square foot up to $212.  In researching 16 neighboring homes, the assessments were all over the map.  When I looked similar homes in a 2 3 block arrange, I also found no consistency. 

The current assessment methods being used by the Ada County Assessor are flawed, inconsistent and out of control.  I called the Deputy Assessor and received an adjustment on the spot when I discussed my findings not only for our home but all my neighbors as well.

Now here they come again in 2007, with their same inconsistent approach. Yes, we all received a reduction with our reduced levy but it will be short lived with these absurd increases being proposed. 

We need a voice and great place to start to exercise it collectively is here on CheckaBiz. 

Lets get as my homeowners involved as we can, compare notes, raise the volume on this injustice and get it corrected.  Sign up all your friends here on CheckaBiz --- we can tackle this issue together now. 

Time is of the essence.

Here are some preliminary resources that will help you get educated and up to speed on how you might be affected by such increases:

• Ada County Assessor's Main Page  - The best place to quickly get up to speed on property taxes.
  • Land Records/GIS site - Search for your parcel of land and get all sorts of details about your property, including:
    • valuations (including valuations over the last several years),
    • relevant tax districts
    • total taxes (both taxes paid and taxes due)
  • Timetable - A good list of dates, including due dates for payments and important deadlines for filings and appeals.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Now, if you have been negatively affected by these increases and feel that it isn't fair, here's what can be done about it.

• Contact a Deputy Assessor - If you feel that your assessed value is higher than what your property would probably sell for on the open market, you can submit market information to support your position. The appraiser assigned to assess your property will consider any evidence you wish to submit.
  • Typical submitted market information comes in the form of a realtor's comparative market analysis, copies of independent appraisals done for sales or refinance, repair estimates or any other pertinent data. Many property owners submit additional market information during the appeal process, and often values are adjusted to reflect the new evidence.
    
    
• Act Quickly! - The due date for assessment notice appeals is usually in mid June, and according to the Assessor's website "[c]ompleted [appeal] forms must be filed with the Ada County Commissioners Office on or before the 4th Monday of June at 5:00 p.m." (link)
  • The Appeal Form(pdf document)
    
    
• Property Tax Appeals - How To Win Your Case - This is a commonsense guide written by George Evers that covers the minefields of cost adjustments, comparable home price comparisons and a lot more.  This is a comprehensive guide with over 120 pages worth of assessment information. 
  • This eBook is available for a $37.00 download here. Check a Biz also has a copy and we'd be happy to loan you if you are interested.  :)

We here at Check a Biz hope that this information will be useful to you.

If you have anything you'd like to add, or if you want to just chime in about the increases, please leave a comment to this post by scrolling down and filling out the simple "Add Comment" fields below!