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Highlands Today

Amendment One Wasn't Good For Everybody

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By BILL RETTEW JR.

Highlands Today

Published: September 3, 2008

SEBRING - Larry Rogers complained to his Rotary group that the assessed values of his home and another property he owns rose, although voters passed Amendment One.

"Politicians promised that taxes would drop like a rock, and all my taxes went up," said Rogers, "And when I said it at Rotary, there was a chorus of 'me toos.'

"Even though (politicians) were talking about taxes going down, it just ain't happening."

TRIM notices were recently sent to owners of more than 120,000 county properties by Raymond McIntyre, Highlands County property appraiser.

The notices give an idea of "how much property value has changed," said McIntyre.

Rogers is a member of the Avon Park Breakfast Rotary and lives at one property with a homestead exemption, located on Orange Street, while he rents out another Avon Park home.

The county notice stated that the assessed value of the Orange Street property rose from $33,299 to $34,298 for 2008, and the rental property was assessed at $44,719, a jump from $42,938. Rogers said he made no improvements to either property.

"They promised us tax cuts, and it's not going to be cut," said Rogers.

McIntyre stressed that the property appraiser's office determines values, not tax rates, with the overall value of property in the county down 10 percent overall.

For the most recent notices, 2007 numbers were used, and McIntyre projected that when 2008 numbers are compiled, there will be another drop in values.

McIntyre said Florida ranks 47th for per capita taxes. Some property values are up, including many commercial properties on U.S. 27, while others remained the same or dipped.

"Where are you going to live with cheaper taxes than Florida?" asked McIntyre. "We know that property values are declining on the whole, as well as most of the people in the state of Florida do," said McIntrye. "It's been over reported. But it's not all gloom and doom, or the sky is falling."

The property appraiser said determining property values is "pretty straight forward." Assessments are based on comparable sales of properties in the neighborhood.

McIntyre compared his job to that of a professional antique or automobile appraiser. A Lake Jackson home would not be compared in the same way that an Orange Blossom Estates home would.

"Use as many comparable items as you can," said McIntyre. "What are your neighbors selling their property for?"

Improvements can raise the value of a property, and other factors can lower value.

McIntyre said the property appraiser's office will determine whether changes like cracks in a ceiling, a settling foundation, a pool filled back in, or removal of a shed or mobile home, might merit a decreased assessment.

The property appraiser's office will meet with taxpayers to review how an individual's property was assessed. Call the office at 402-6659 or visit in person on the ground floor of the Highlands County Government Center.

Taxpayers have until Sept. 12 to file a petition with the Value Adjustment Board for a hearing with a special master.

The final stop for those who still disagree is to file a lawsuit in circuit court.

Bill Rettew Jr. may be contacted at 386-5857 or wrettew@highlandstoday.com

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