| If you ever wondered how to enact a winning | | | | effective (so they think) to the tax collection authority, it |
| property tax appeal you'll find your answer below in | | | | is not fair to a large portion of homeowners. |
| this article where all you'll ever need to put figures and | | | | Consumer Reports (Nov.1992 v57 nil p.723) published |
| property tax appeal facts together, authoritatively and | | | | that property tax records show an error rate of 40% |
| inexpensively, happen. Finally! Get a property tax guide | | | | exists in estimating property taxes. The National |
| that shows you with pinpoint accuracy how to value | | | | Taxpayers Union ("How To Fight Property Taxes" |
| your home and show your municipal authorities just | | | | 2004 p.1) writes that as many as 60% of all |
| what they want to see. Show them the format that | | | | homeowners are over-assessed and not in line with |
| will ring the bell. Target the "right comparable | | | | their home value. |
| adjustments" and you'll get your appeal in the winners | | | | When you win a property tax appeal your tax win |
| circle. And, it won't cost much, especially compared to | | | | continues: Your property tax assessment savings rolls |
| the "professionals." | | | | over year after year - it's not just a one shot deal! If |
| Many homeowners use professional representation. I | | | | you reduce your taxes say $1,000 for the year, that |
| speak to these folks at hearings and ask what it costs | | | | savings is yours each and every year until the next |
| to appeal. I get a lot of answers, but the average cost | | | | blanket reassessment ... which could be for another 5, |
| for a lawyer in my state was around $250 an hour | | | | 10, 20 or more years. |
| that they (the attorney and you) had to be present at | | | | The correct vocabulary is that one appeals their |
| municipal hearings or tax court. You don't know when | | | | assessments. Appealing your taxes is a political issue. |
| your case is heard. It could be morning or afternoon ... | | | | If you don't like your taxes, your protest them! The |
| the attorney's meter is running. | | | | nonsense of tax increases is largely the result of |
| The initial appraisals (done by a professional appraiser) | | | | spineless government officials who are addicted to |
| cost about $400 (the cheapest they could find was | | | | spending instead of cost cutting. I live on a budget and |
| $390) plus $350 for their appraiser showing up to | | | | so should my government! Period. |
| testify for up to 4 hours (anything over a half-day is | | | | The Village of Skokie, Illinois has kept promise to keep |
| extra). Still others scour the magazines and internet for | | | | taxes flat since '90. It can be done! |
| any hint they can find on how to crunch the numbers | | | | It's not surprising that Skokie trustees made a promise |
| and technique. | | | | in 1990 to hold the line on taxes. What's surprising is |
| Your local government uses what is called a mass | | | | that the promise still stands. The Village Board is |
| appraisal process to value you home. They obtain | | | | scheduled to vote Monday on a 2006 tax levy of |
| valuation quickly and usually inefficiently by getting | | | | $15.5 million, the same amount it levied in 1990. |
| cheap fast results. They spend huge amounts on this | | | | That's 16 consecutive years with no new property |
| to catch the few folks who added a deck, patio, shed | | | | taxes. Had the village increased its levy every year |
| or small addition without a building permit. | | | | just to account for inflation, as determined by the |
| Many times the highest-priced homes are used as a | | | | consumer price index, Skokie's 2006 tax levy would be |
| gauge of the neighborhood's value. The easy way is | | | | $23.3 million, said Robert Nowak, director of finance. |
| to roll over previous information. Erroneous information | | | | It can be done! Is budgeting done in you community? |
| makes it way on the property record card. While cost | | | | |