Assessor controversy |
Assessor controversy |
Nov 27 2007, 11:57 AM
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Spends WAY too much time at CBTL Group: Admin Posts: 16,431 Joined: 8-December 06 From: Michigan City, IN Member No.: 2 |
http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=46499.27
QUOTE What Is The Value Of Assessors? Their future is in question as officials look at ways to cut costs, better state’s property tax system. Laurie Wink The News-Dispatch LA PORTE - Controversy swirls around proposals to change Indiana's property tax system, with delays in property tax bills and many unhappy with the property assessment system. Gov. Mitch Daniels has proposed eliminating all 1,008 elected county and township assessors. His plan calls for streamlining the assessment process by having a single appointed assessor in each of Indiana's 92 counties selected by county councils. That selection would be on the basis of professional skills and experience, rather than having elected assessors. Howard Conley has been trustee assessor in Springfield Township for 29 years and says the system provides valuable services to residents. Conley isn't against combining some smaller townships. But if county and township assessors are cut, the concern is townships could disappear. "The Governor would like to eliminate township government all together," Conley said. "But you're not going to have volunteer firemen. They won't stay. In order to maintain fire protection, you will have to go to paid firemen. Where's that going to save money?" The Indiana Assessors Association opposes Daniels' plan. While the governor would trim the number of statewide assessors to 92, the assessor group is recommending even fewer; one appointed assessor for 10 regions in the state. Assessors have received the brunt of criticism for late tax bills and increased assessment figures. They want to change the public perception by having supervisors in the 10 regions report to the Indiana Department of Revenue, in an attempt to produce more consistent property assessments. The IAA also would add one certified, experienced assessor in each region who would be selected by and report to the regional supervisors. This approach may eliminate all of the state's elected township assessors. The Indiana Township Association Inc., created to support trustees and assessors, represents more than 750 of the state's 1,008 townships. The organization is preparing to fight efforts to do away with township government. Of La Porte County's 21 townships, only the three largest - Center, Coolspring and Michigan - have full time assessors. The other 18 townships have elected officials serving as assessors and trustees. Mike Schultz, assessor for Center Township, agrees township assessors bring a wealth of knowledge of local properties. Schultz said he has been able to work well with the Nexus Group consultants hired to handle property values. He added his familiarity with Center Township gives him an edge consultants don't have when determining property values. To boost the professional competency of township assessors, the state two years ago required all township assessors to become certified as Level 1 of Level 11 assessors. But Conley says things haven't changed all that much. "It's like before," Conley said. "There are good township assessors and those who don't care if they do a thing. That's what makes it bad for all of us." The veteran township official does not like the move to more centralized and privatized government services being pushed by Daniels. "I voted for him, but he's dead on arrival in the next (election)," Conley said. Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com. |
Dec 21 2007, 08:53 AM
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Spends WAY too much time at CBTL Group: Admin Posts: 16,431 Joined: 8-December 06 From: Michigan City, IN Member No.: 2 |
This is the line that caught my eye, more than any of the tax bills that were quoted.
QUOTE Dysard said her property tax bill in 2006 was only $5,000. In the past year, she said, the value of her home shot up from $100,000 to $800,000. Did her home value really go up in value 8X's or did they just finally reassess her value to accurately reflect her real home value. If the house is REALLY worth $800k, I am pissed because I have been paying almost as much for my $80k house as she was for her $800k house for years. If the house values are accurate, all that means is that the people with lower house values have been subsidizing people who have house values way higher than theirs. It would be akin to a guy making $50,000 a year paying the same amount in income taxes as a guy making $500,000. Now if they are over-assessing values to these houses that is a different story, otherwise I don't feel too sorry for these people. This woman will own an asset worth 8X's more value than when she started, why shouldn't she have to pay a lot more in taxes than everyone else? |
Dec 21 2007, 09:13 AM
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Really Comfortable Group: Members Posts: 1,099 Joined: 11-January 07 Member No.: 19 |
This is the line that caught my eye, more than any of the tax bills that were quoted. Did her home value really go up in value 8X's or did they just finally reassess her value to accurately reflect her real home value. If the house is REALLY worth $800k, I am pissed because I have been paying almost as much for my $80k house as she was for her $800k house for years. If the house values are accurate, all that means is that the people with lower house values have been subsidizing people who have house values way higher than theirs. It would be akin to a guy making $50,000 a year paying the same amount in income taxes as a guy making $500,000. Now if they are over-assessing values to these houses that is a different story, otherwise I don't feel too sorry for these people. This woman will own an asset worth 8X's more value than when she started, why shouldn't she have to pay a lot more in taxes than everyone else? This could be part of the problem SS'er let me divert back to NIPSCO. They were assessed at 20 million. How much lake front property do they have? 1/2 mile? 3/4 mile, maybe more? Since all these lawsuits have begun, this was brought in to the light and now NIPSCO is now assessed at 60 million. I'll repeat what was heard by one of the heads in the assessors office over a year ago: "it isn't that you (Lake Shore Drive) is over assessed, it's that the entire county is under assessed." |
Dec 21 2007, 09:47 AM
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Spends WAY too much time at CBTL Group: Admin Posts: 16,431 Joined: 8-December 06 From: Michigan City, IN Member No.: 2 |
This could be part of the problem SS'er let me divert back to NIPSCO. They were assessed at 20 million. How much lake front property do they have? 1/2 mile? 3/4 mile, maybe more? Since all these lawsuits have begun, this was brought in to the light and now NIPSCO is now assessed at 60 million. I'll repeat what was heard by one of the heads in the assessors office over a year ago: "it isn't that you (Lake Shore Drive) is over assessed, it's that the entire county is under assessed." The rest of the county's house values are nothing like Long Beach's either. That makes it sound to me like this group is going after the middle class homeowner. If someone has a house worth 800,000 dollars, they should be paying property taxes on that value. |
Dec 21 2007, 09:59 AM
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Really Comfortable Group: Members Posts: 1,099 Joined: 11-January 07 Member No.: 19 |
The rest of the county's house values are nothing like Long Beach's either. That makes it sound to me like this group is going after the middle class homeowner. If someone has a house worth 800,000 dollars, they should be paying property taxes on that value. You still aren't listening to what I'm saying. Judy Anderson said verbatum "It isn't that you (lake shore) is over assessed (implied that they might even be under assessed) it's that the rest of the county is under assessed." What's wrong with having an even playing ground for everyone? It doesn't tick you off that NIPSCO for years has been 40 million dollars under assessed? |
Dec 21 2007, 10:21 AM
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Spends WAY too much time at CBTL Group: Admin Posts: 16,431 Joined: 8-December 06 From: Michigan City, IN Member No.: 2 |
You still aren't listening to what I'm saying. Judy Anderson said verbatum "It isn't that you (lake shore) is over assessed (implied that they might even be under assessed) it's that the rest of the county is under assessed." What's wrong with having an even playing ground for everyone? It doesn't tick you off that NIPSCO for years has been 40 million dollars under assessed? I heard exactly what you said. I also understand that the rest of LaPorte County's home values are no where near what places like Long Beach are. Yeah, I don't like NIPSCO paying too little in property taxes, but I also don't feel that anyone else should be paying too little in property taxes either. The problem with just pictures of these houses is that they don't tell the full story. Assessments are based on lots of things, not just the view of the house from the front. What are comperable houses in the area selling for is the biggest thing. Even if you are just looking at the front view of that place, if it was valued at 100,000 last year, I am kind of pissed. She has been getting away with murder in underpaying property taxes. There is no way a place like that is only worth that in Long Beach. That place is worth way more than 100K in MY neighborhood, and that is saying something. The problem with this whole property tax revolution going on in Indiana is that they are basically going to push the taxes off onto the lower classes of people who can't afford to fight this stuff. Gov Daniels plan to increase sales taxes as a part of this reform is only proof of that. |
Dec 21 2007, 10:37 AM
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Really Comfortable Group: Members Posts: 1,099 Joined: 11-January 07 Member No.: 19 |
I heard exactly what you said. I also understand that the rest of LaPorte County's home values are no where near what places like Long Beach are. Yeah, I don't like NIPSCO paying too little in property taxes, but I also don't feel that anyone else should be paying too little in property taxes either. The problem with just pictures of these houses is that they don't tell the full story. Assessments are based on lots of things, not just the view of the house from the front. What are comperable houses in the area selling for is the biggest thing. Even if you are just looking at the front view of that place, if it was valued at 100,000 last year, I am kind of pissed. She has been getting away with murder in underpaying property taxes. There is no way a place like that is only worth that in Long Beach. That place is worth way more than 100K in MY neighborhood, and that is saying something. The problem with this whole property tax revolution going on in Indiana is that they are basically going to push the taxes off onto the lower classes of people who can't afford to fight this stuff. Gov Daniels plan to increase sales taxes as a part of this reform is only proof of that. I'd be A LOT more pissed about NIPSCO being 40 MILLION. THAT'S MILLION! Than a homeowner being underassessed. That said, what do you think about the comment that Judy Anderson the County Deputy Assessor had to say? As far as taxes being pushed on to people who can't afford to fight this stuff, believe me, that's already happened. |
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