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052295Community Meeting on Revaluation - May 22, 1995 A meeting scheduled by Chairman Phil Kemp was held at 7:00 p.m. on May 22, 1995, at South Asheboro Middle School, Asheboro, NC, to provide information to the public about the proposed property revaluation for 1997 and to answer the public's questions concerning this proposal. Commissioners Kemp and Frye were present. Also present were Tax Assessor Billy Chilton, Tax staff Debra Hill and Ben Chavis, and County Manager Frank Willis. Chairman Kemp stated that Mr. Chilton has asked the Commissioners to consider holding the next revaluation in 1997 (4 -year cycle) rather than waiting until 2001 (8 -year cycle) and that the Board would like input from the public before making a decision. Mr. Chilton explained why he feels the revaluation cycle should be shortened to 4 years: ° Tax values are based on January 1993 market values and are frozen until the next revaluation. ° Personal property is valued at 100% of market value every year. ° During the 8 -year cycle, there is an inequitable shift in the tax burden totaling $20-$25 million. Values do not increase at the same rate countywide. Owners of land and buildings in areas where the demand is less and values are increasing slowly will pay over $4,000,000 more than their fair share between 1997 and 2000 in county taxes. ° Public service properties are assessed at 100% market value each year, but state law requires the Tax Department to make adjustments to bring these values in line with other values in the county, including those set at the last revaluation. If the 8 -year cycle is used, these companies would receive over $1,400,000 reduction in taxes. County property owners will make up the reduction. ° The changes in values will be less drastic in a 4 -year cycle, making the increases in values less drastic and traumatic. ° Much of the data needed for revaluation has already been collected. About 5,000 properties are visited each year. All this information can be used in a 1997 revaluation, but if we wait until 2001, this information must be discarded as outdated and the Tax Department will have to start over with data collection. Mr. Chilton said that the Tax Department has the capability and expertise to do the next revaluation in-house, at an estimated cost of less than $150,000. Comments from the Public Dean Smith stated that he lives in Guilford County but owns property in Randolph. He complained of the procedure that a taxpayer goes through to appeal the value placed on his property. He suggested that voters be allowed to select four or more members of the Board of Equalization and Review. He also said that tax bills should be totally itemized, showing every building and every parcel, with values for each shown on the bill. Barbara Nixon said that the County Commissioners have already made up their minds about this issue and it won't matter what people say. She said the public voted down the jail in 1991 but the Commissioners went ahead with it anyway because they don't care what the public thinks. She asked if any other counties have gone to a 4 -year cycle. Mr. Chilton said there are 19 N.C. counties with at least 50,000 parcels; of those, 8 are on a 4 -year cycle, 1 is on a 2 -year cycle, and 1 is on a 3 - year cycle. Mrs. Roland Trotter said she does not think that what the people think makes any difference to the Commissioners. Lewis Cheek said he disagrees with Mr. Chilton and that the Tax Department has appraised useless land higher than useful land. He said there should be a simpler way to appeal values and that tax bills should include addresses for parcels of land instead of numbers. Joan Redding opposed a 4 -year revaluation cycle, stating that housing will be even more unattainable for young people if values are adjusted more often. Faye Cox opposed a 4 -year cycle. She said she asked several of her neighbors to come tonight, but they said it would not make any difference. She said values and taxes go up, but salaries don't and that most people are not planning to sell their homes, so a higher value placed on it won't do them any good. Cliff King said every revaluation taxes go up and that the cost of revaluation will double if it is done every 4 years rather than every 8 years. Leo Cranford asked why his property value had increased $2,500 on his last tax bill when there was not a revaluation. Tax staff examined his bill and stated that it appeared to be because his road was paved, which increases the value of property. Jake Wilson said nobody wants a 4 -year revaluation because taxes will go up. He said we should cut government here. He asked who does the appraising and what are they doing now. Mr. Chilton explained that appraisers are now preparing for revaluation, reviewing records, and visiting sites identified through building permits issued. Commissioner Frye explained the makeup of the Equalization and Review Board. This meeting ended at 9:15 p.m. Phil Kemp, Chairman Darrell L. Frye Alice D. Dawson, Clerk to the Board Community Meeting on Revaluation - May 30, 1995 A meeting scheduled by Chairman Phil Kemp was held at John Lawrence Elementary School, Archdale, NC, at 7:00 p.m. on May 30, 1995. Commissioners Kemp, Frye, and Davis were present. Also present were Tax Assessor Billy Chilton, Tax staff Debra Hill and Ben Chavis, and County Manager Frank Willis. Chairman Kemp stated that Mr. Chilton has asked the Commissioners to consider holding the next revaluation in 1997 (4 -year cycle) rather than waiting until 2001(8 -year cycle) and that the Board would like input from the public before making a decision. Mr. Chilton explained why he feels the revaluation cycle should be shortened to 4 years. (See May 22, 1995 minutes.) Comments from the Public Dean Smith opposed a 4 -year revaluation cycle, saying that it would require too much time and effort on the part of taxpayers who want to appeal their values. He also opposed the appeal process. He said Commissioners hide behind revaluation as a way to raise taxes, that citizens should be able to appoint 4 or more Equalization and Review Board members, and that itemized tax bills should be sent out to everyone in the county. Kermit Farlow, senior citizen, said that when one stops earning income, he becomes sensitive to tax increases and that his taxes have gone up every time there has been a revaluation. He also expressed concern for young married couples trying to buy a house. Roy Scarborough said tax money should be spent on law abiding citizens instead of on law breakers. Worth Cox asked about getting a separate tax bill for each property he owns and asked how Tax Department appraisers do appraisals. Mr. Chilton explained that his staff does appraisals the same way fee appraisers do. Marty Elkes said that the 8 -year cycle is easier for the citizens and said he wants less government. Ed Gavin stated that citizens are very fortunate to have such conscientious people serving as County Commissioners. He reminded the audience that the Commissioners also have to sit and listen to all those asking for revenues as well as those asking them to keep taxes down. He favors the 4 -year cycle, noting that when we postpone revaluation for 8 years, the shock of the new values is much greater. The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Phil Kemp, Chairman Darrell L. Frye Robert Davis Alice D. Dawson, Clerk to the Board