This is a copy of the email I sent my state rep in regards to our personal property tax going up 100%! Thats right, 100%. The asnwers I got back were enough to make my head exploed!
I hope you’re sitting down :banghead:
While continuing to investigate the multi-township issue I spent several hours in our county tax assessor office this week.
Roger I am here to tell you there is ZERO accountability to our taxpayers through the current system of assessors!
Our property tax went up 100%!
While looking at the dimensions they have for our home I informed them those numbers are way off from what a tape measure reflects. (Drum Roll Please) “That’s Possible because when we put those together we had the High School kids do it as part of a class project”
Justification on issues with my taxes:
Finished Attic? NO its not finished! “You got curtains on the windows so we assumed it was finished!”
Full CEMENT basement? NO its Brick Half Basement! “Oh, I thought it was a full basement”
24x48 Building? NO SUCH BUILDING ON OUR PROPERTY! “Its not our job to take stuff off, its your job to object then the review board may or may not adjust the record”
Lot size doubled? No, it’s the same since 1901! “We assumed your lot size wrong, its right now with our aerial mapping”
What standard determines lot size? “How much grass you mow” Your kidding right? NO!
Ag Pole building attached to House lot? Built and used for Farm operation. “It’s a garage because I drank bear and played cards in it when your tenant lived there”. What our tenant did was violate the lease agreement and that’s why he is gone. Its not a garage! “I say it is!”
It’s clear there is NO STANDARD being used and ZERO accountability!
I have talked with people who have had their property tax go up 600%, 365%, 100%, 40% and 10%. It appears the new aerial mapping system is driving everyone’s taxes up with a boat load of errors. Creeks through property that have ALWAYS been classified wasteland are now tillable acres. Don’t catch it and you pay taxes for it! Ground with trees planted now show up as Tillable acres. Don’t catch it and you pay tax’s for it. Their new system is changing and raising EVERYONES tax out of control.
It’s clear the assessor’s office has taken the position they have ZERO responsibility to actually do their job outside of fixing whatever the tax payer MIGHT catch on their assessment. Our Tax assessor KNEW the building on our assessment was NOT ON OUR PROPERTY yet did nothing and told me it’s not his job to take stuff off?
HOW DO WE HOLD THESE ASSESORS ACCOUNTABLE? They get paid by the taxpayer and it’s clear after this week they do NOTHING to represent the tax payer………………..outside costing us far more money than necessary.
Don’t take my word for it. Contact our new states attorney, Mark Isaf! He too is finding that the Mantra for Edgar County is “We have always done it that way!
IT HAS TO STOP! HELP
OK, done venting but I hope this gives you some information you can use to try and fix what’s broke!
Thanks
Kirk Allen
Kansas
