Cabarrus Cheap Seats

 

The County Tax Assessor revaluated my home from $89,000 to $103,000.  I felt that this revaluation was much too high so I appealed to the Board of Equaization and Review.  After hearing the same evidence that I presented in 2004 in which the board reduced the revaluation by $10,000, this time the board increased the revaluation by $12,000.  Now my home is valued at $115,000.  Other houses in my sub-division are selling from $81,000 to $89,000.  This evidence was presented to the Board alone with the proximity of my home to two (2) private sewage treatment plants.  The fact that my home was built in 1972 and has sub standard alumium wiring throughout.  When I filed my appeal with the Board, two County Appraisers came out to my house, measured inside and out, took pictures and discussed the area with me.  The next day, one of the appraisers call me and told me that they were willing to lower the revaluation to $98,000.  I told her that the house was worth no more than $93,000.  She told me to proceed with the appeal.  On July 9th I appeared before the Board and presented my case with evidence, maps, other listings of homes in my sub-division built about the same time as mine.  However, the County Appraiser had now decided that my house was worth $115,000 and not the $98,000.that they had offered just a scant two weeks before. The Board arbitrary and capriciously agreed with the County Assessor and set the value of my home at $115,790.00 an increase of some $27,000.  I have, of course, appealed to the NC Property Tax Commission and now await a hearing date.

 

I have said all of this to bring your attention to the fact that the Board of Equalization and Review has become a rubber stamp for the County Assessors Office.  I do not believe that they gave any credence to my evidence whatsoever.  The board appeared to be overwhelmed by the presence of at least four members of the Assessors Staff present in the hearing room, who had overhead projectors and computers to dazzle them.  I presented my edivence and one of the members asked me my age.  I was then shown the door and told to await a letter of their decision.  The County Commission should appoint members to this Board who are impartial and are willing to listen to the taxpayer when he/she testifies before them and not those become unduly infulenced by the County Assessors Office.