What If I Disagree with the Assessment of My Property?

If your opinion of value for your property differs from the assessed value, you are encouraged to visit the Real Estate and Personal Property Abatement Process page and review the steps outlined there. After review of this information please contact the Assessor’s Office with any questions and the staff will be more than ready hear your concerns, take the necessary steps to correct a problem or help you understand the valuation process in your neighborhood. When questioning the assessment value, you should ask yourself three questions:

  • Is the Assessing Department's property description data regarding my property correct (i.e., square footage, number of baths etc.)?
  • Is my assessed value in line with the sale prices on my street or in my neighborhood that took place in the year that was used to produce the assessments?  (e.g., The residential sales from calendar year 2020 were used to produce the FY 2022 assessments.)
  • Is my assessed value in line with others on the street or in my neighborhood?

Keep in mind the property factors that are important in arriving at an assessed value: e.g., recent sale prices, quality of construction, condition, your property’s neighborhood designation, building square footage and lot size. These are some of the factors in the valuation process. There is a variety of information available on the Fiscal Year Data tab online and at the Assessing Department to help you determine whether your assessment is fair and equitable. If, after discussing the matter with the staff and researching the assessments of comparable properties within your area, a difference of opinion still exists, you may appeal your assessment by filing a timely abatement application.

If you wish to file for an abatement, you can find an application on the Forms and Guides tab of the Assessors website or directly at Assessing Department. Applications are accepted once you receive your third quarter tax bill. When filing for abatement, remember that you are appealing your assessment and not your taxes.

You must pay your tax bill pending the resolution of your appeal.

The abatement application asks for information that can be found on your tax bill. The space for information as to why you feel your property is overvalued is limited. If additional space is needed, please provide attachments and simply state “See Attachments” on the form. It is important to make a case to support your claim. That is, you need to provide reasons why you feel your assessment is out of line. For example, this can be done by pointing out errors in your property description; and/or by citing recent sales or other assessments which indicate your assessment is too high. In reviewing your abatement application, we will carefully consider your specific concerns and comparisons.

If your abatement is granted:

You will receive a letter indicating the amount of the abatement.  To determine how much your assessment was reduced, divide the tax abatement by appropriate Fiscal Year tax rate.  (For example, an abatement of $128.40 divided by the tax rate of 12.84 per thousand (.01284) equals an assessment reduction of $10,000.)  Your abatement will normally be credited toward your fourth quarter tax bill. If your abatement is granted after your fourth quarter tax bill is paid, your credit balance will show as reduction of your first quarter tax bill for the next fiscal year unless you contact the collector’s office requesting a refund check.

Abatement denied:

You will receive a notice indicating your application was denied. You may appeal to the State Appellate Tax Board (ATB) within three months of the Assessor’s decision.