Assessments are On Their Way
Assessment notices should be hitting your mailbox any day now. If you feel that the assessment is out of whack you can appeal to have it changed. I have heard in the past that this can be a bit of a crap shoot but I’ve never done so I’ll leave the commentary to those that have gone through the process. My only goal is to show you the process. Any issue with your assessment, mailing address, property description whatever can only be addressed by contacting the Richmond City Assessor (804)646-5600. Nobody else in the city can help you out and even the 311 number will simply transfer you to the City Assessor. Please remember that you are not the only one contacting the Assessor and make sure you have all your information and your patience ready.
These are important dates in the reassessment process:
- July 1, 2011 Effective date of value; all assessment values are calculated as of this date.
- Jan 1, 2012 Reassessment date; means we must, by law, continue to add new construction value and issue supplemental notices through December 31st
- Jan 1, 2012 Tax year (land book) date; financial date for budgeting purposes.
Other dates of consequence:
- July 31, 2011- Deadline to filing an appeal to office;
- Aug 31, 2011- Deadline for filing an appeal to the Board of Review
- Nov 15, 2011- Certification of land book file. Sent to Finance for billing process.
- Jan 14, 2012- First half bills due;
- Jun 14, 2012- Second half bills due;
- July 1, 2012- Start all over again.
The Notice of Reassessment includes last year’s value, this year’s value and the percentage change in tax levy. The calculation of levy difference does not represent a change in state law. In the past the calculated change was not on the form because the notice was mailed prior to city council setting the new tax rate, and the calculation could not be provided. Because council set the current rate before the printing of the notice, this information is required.
The Office Review Period is the first step of appeal if a property owner wishes to contest their new assessment. The office review period is set for July 1-July31. The filing form can be retrieved from the department website, at the office front counter; the Assessor’s office will also mail a form directly to the owner upon request. All instructions and required information needed to process an office appeal is listed on the application form. The direct number to the front office is listed on the appeal form.
By state law, there are only two grounds for an Assessment Appeal: The projected assessment is (1) above market value, or (2) inequitable with similarly-classed assessments. If one or both claims are made, the property owner is required to supply what information supports their contention. An analysis is performed on that information and other collected market information before a written decision is provided.
If a property owner does not agree with the office review determination, there remains the option of using the second step of appeal by pursuing their case before the Board of Review. Appointed by the circuit court, this citizen panel is authorized to change any assessment brought before them. The deadline for filing to the Board of Review is August 31. The Board will be in session from September 1-December 31.
The third and last step of assessment appeal is directly to the Richmond Circuit Court. This step is rarely used; it occurs at the rate of less than 1 in 1,000 cases.
All the information above was from an email to city council members by James D Hester, Richmond City Assessor. I made some minor edits and added some links. Any questions about the process or you assessment should go to the Richmond City Assessor (804) 646-5600.
Sometimes the information is online before it actually hits the mailbox…they aren’t up yet, but keep checking.
“If one or both claims are made, the property owner is required to supply what information supports their contention.” Specifically, what information can be used to support an appeal? Does this involve a real estate agent, the mortgage company, etc…?
The information is generally available from the public record. Houses like yours, i.e. two story brick, 1935, 3 bedrooms, two bath, 10K yard, {blank} neighborhood, recent sales (of LIKE houses) in your asssesment area, etc. Last year, the assessment trends for houses in most of the H& H area were selling for about 2-4% lower; some were higher. Time on market is NOT one of the variables. Desk review by Assessors office does not have a high rate of success. Appeals to the Board of Review have a much higher rate of success. Some people actually want a higher assessment; people who are planning to sell within the next byear or so.
Ours have gone down nominally.
Down for the first time in several years. Decrease of 3%.
Just got ours – dropped about 7%, which was very surprising to me. I’m not sure how spending $50k on exterior renovations translates into a drop, but I guess I’ll wait until the 2012 online assessments are up – allowing me to do a bit of comparative research -before I worry about getting concerned.
Ours went down as well – 6%.
The $60.3MM from RMA will nicely plug the hole these assessment drops will have on the budget.
Ours is down 8%, and I got a reduction last year after I contested the assessment. Interesting.
The process for me was some years ago, to lower the assessment. We did have to have a formal proposal and that required hiring someone. The amount we paid the private assessor did ended up being more than the tax money I saved that year. I did suceed at getting the lower assessment, but it just did not pay to go through the process at all.
Mine went down this year by $18K. So still higher than in 2006 !