Why does our Property Appraiser have to determine the assessed values of the properties in Walton County PRIOR to the County Commissioners establishing a budget? Is this not as backwards as gov't gets? It is wrong, no matter how you spell it.
I think you clearly state the process as I understand it. The Property Appraiser, Patrick, is required by law to calculate the assessed values of the property PRIOR to the BCC creating a budget. I don't care when the Property Appraiser does his work, as long as the County Budget is created prior to finding out the assessed value of the properties in WalCo. If the County would first determine the budget, then set the millage rate based on the Assessed Values, the millage rate would have dropped much less than one mill for the last two years.
As for 2006 Assessed Values, according to Patrick, he is required to base assessed values on sold comparibles. That sounds great, but what happens when there are no sales of comps? The law states that he cannot use anything but closed sales. As asking prices of real estate in many cases, have decreased, assessed values not going to decrease, unless the weighted average of the sold comps decreases. No sales = no change. It doesn't matter that the listing price has dropped 20-30% and that you couldn't sell it. Also, using their current system, appealing your assessed values doesn't really matter because the appeals are heard only after the County has set the budget, and they need every penny or they will be over budget. According to the Property Appraiser, zero of the 2005 appeals were changed.
I know the lot on Oak St, but the Property Appraiser throws the highs and lows out of his data when compiling the weighted average, so don't look for that low sale (which was an estate sale that was ongoing for over a year) to make a change in other comps in that area.All very good points. One item of note is that as of next week, we should have a one-acre lot in Point Washington that was assessed last year at $150k that sold for under a $100k so hopefully that will help some people out.;-)
most of the reason that the bcc lowered millage rates is because of the huge crowds that showed up at those final 2 meetings... go take a look at the vote and you will see which commissioners voted against lowering the millage rates...WCTA has done a magnificent job of explaing the numbers in actual cash increases to the county, since 2001 almost 300% increase.
When i hear about lowering taxes will mean a reduction in services i have to say, you (no one in particular) must be working for the county. Believe me you will not lose your job if millage rates are reduced.
Just about every new paved road in south walton was done by developers or neighborhood associations...each and every home that hooks up to utilities pays a multi thousand dollar impact fee. There are gas taxes, bed taxes, sin taxes...all on top of property taxes.
We are over taxed period...This should be an issue that every one agrees on...millage rates could be rolled back much more and there would still be an increase in the dollars collected...and do not count on a few lower sales in 2006 to lower your appraised property value.