Township assessing dept nothing but a "DEN of THEIVES.' (credit, attorney)

[lute1812]

In 2010 I was granted 1/2 of my prior year’s appraised value, when I purchased my home in July 2009, but was given no depreciation by the review board — even though I had walked into the room with a statement from the township detailing that I was entitled to a ($4,000) credit.

In 2011 my assessment went up 600 to 56.500 and this year it went up 1,700 to 58,300. Surprisingly I did not get a notice of my 2011 assessment in the mail and discovered it after the review process via a conversation with a neighbor. I did a review of my neighbors' assessments on streets parallel to mine and mine, which resulted in 299 property owners that were subject to assessments and property taxes. The kicker is that All 298 of my neighbors received a depreciation credit between (3,000) and (8,000) in 2010 and the identical results had occurred in 2011 where ALL {100%} of my 298 neighbors received a credit between (3,000) and (8,000) and mine increased +600. What is this a discriminatory process?

My review board strips me of my 2010 depreciation credit of ($4,000), that was given to me in writing by the township, and then in 2011 my property appreciates when ALL my neighbors properties are given credits in a declining market!

In my 2009 appraiser report (that was accepted at 1/2 it’s value in 2010 by the review board as my assessed value) it included my finished basement and its bath (which were done by the prior owner), but talking with the assessing manager last week he mentioned that my increase this year was due to the finished basement and bath they had discovered. So in effect I'm being DOUBLE assessed for a portion of my home first on the 2010 appraisal's acceptance by the review board then again in my 2012 increase of +1,700. I happened to tell this gent that I had willingly given his 2010 review board that FULL appraisal report and that’s where he had learnt of my basement/bath.

The Assessing department clerk and manager both tried to tell me that there was NO reason to protest my 2012 assessment as the looked at my file on their computer . But I was persistent and I have a review during the week of March 12th.

I have an 8-page spread sheet clearly illustrating how 100% of my neighbors (298) were ALL given substantial credits in 2010 and 2011 when I received a 0 and +600. One resident put up a garage/pole-barn but still managed a (1,000) credit another resident installed a new furnace and new roof and still got a (1,8000) depreciation credit.

The homeowner across the street has a comparable property to mine, has special weatherized windows (that would cost me $20,000+ to install (with three HUGE picture windows)), a substantially newer roof, new aluminum siding (on the rear of brick home)/gutters/trim ... , which are disclosed on his township files, (I have done nothing to trigger an assessment increase) but this neighbor received depreciation credits of (5,100), (5,500) and (2,300) for the years of 2010-2011-2012 whereas mine were 0, +600 and +1,700 -- one different aspect is that this homeowner is a township employee.

Talk about a bunch of crap!

[urbanliving99]

1) You don't identify the township

2) Did you really talk to all 298 neighbors? At what distance does one cease being a neighbor?

3) Last year your assessment went up by only $500 - for an entire 100K+ house. That isn't even the taxable amount you have to pay.

What is the "ask" in your posting? Or should this be on craigslist rant & raves?

You clearly are detail orientated and I think would do much better pursing additional contract/temp work in an accounting or finance field - than sweating about such a nominal tax increase. There are more important things in life...

[lute1812]

1. Will give the township name after Protest Meeting the week of March 12 no reason to give them a preview even though there's not much they can do with the system's figures.

2. Don't need to talk to them, info public record on website

3.Moderator cut: please calm down That across-street neighbor has a 49,000 AV home or 2 x 49000= 98000 home and they received the three credits of -5,100, -5,500, -2,300, for 2010, 2011, 2012 where my property received 0, +600 and +1,700. Oh, yeah and that property owner has employment ties to the township.

Had an appraiser in the other day, report next week, but suspect my only options is the tax tribunal if they don't accept the 1/2 appraisal, but at a minimum I will complain the the state attorney general's office and the aclu.