Property taxes too high? Tell it to county revisions board
By Kevin Risner, krisner@advertiser-tribune.comSeneca County Auditor Larry Beidelschies said people usually think about the value of their properties at the beginning of the year when they receive a property tax bill. Some people think their property is valued too high.
The Board of Revision gives them a chance to present their case.
“What the Board of Revision does is gives the opportunity for a citizen out there in the county to say they think their valuation is placed too high,” Beidelschies said. “No one comes in the other way and says it’s too low. So basically it’s a complaint, but they are going to talk about wanting to lower it.”
The board yesterday began two days of meetings with property owners or their representatives.
Property owners had from Jan. 2 until March 31 to complete and file a one-page Complaint Against the Valuation of Real Property at the auditor’s office.
After the complaints were filed, appointments were established for the property owners to meet with the board.
This year, 41 property owners filed the paperwork and were set with appointments.
Beidelschies is joined on the board by County Treasurer Marguerite Bernard and County Commissioner Mike Bridinger.
A representative of Tyler Technologies CLT Division is also present. Tyler Technologies is the firm that completes mass property valuations every six years for the county.
“A lot can happen in six years,” Beidelschies said. “A lot can happen in a year or two if you have a rental property sometimes.”
Beidelschies said 41 properties is probably more than in other years, but may be driven by the perception that property values are going down overall.
Property sale prices are still higher than valuations recorded in the auditor’s office for most properties, Beidelschies said.
“A lot of properties are taking longer to sell, but we don’t look at how long they are taking to sell,” Beidelschies said. “It’s what they sell for.”
Beidelschies said most of the properties the board is hearing about this year have not been maintained as well as other properties, so the value could be changing.
A few challenges are from property owners who have seen neighboring properties sell for less than was previously expected.
Some individuals are inspired to challenge their property valuations because of their property taxes. Beidelschies said the board does not look at taxes, only property valuations.
“There are certain school districts in the county, they’re the highest in the thing,” Beidelschies said. “We have big differences in different locations in the county for what your taxes are. You choose where you want to live. You choose your school district. You choose your taxing district. That’s what your taxes are based on. The people pass the levies in those areas. So there are some big differences in some taxes.”
After the formal complaint form is filed, the board visits the properties and take photographs.
Unless a property owner is at the location and invites the board inside, the board does not view the interior of the properties.
When property owners or their representatives meet with the board, they are sworn in and the meeting is recorded on audio-tape. The meeting is the time to present evidence to change the property valuation.
“You come here and you go through this process,” Beidelschies said. “Within 30 days we’ll get back with you on the findings of the Board of Revision. We send you a certified letter within 30 days. If you don’t like the Board of Revision’s decision, you can appeal it then to the board of appeals down in Columbus or common pleas courts.
“If they don’t appeal within 30 days, it’s really a done thing. They can only appeal once every three years, or unless there was a value change, unless a fire happened, or something happened.”
