Contesting Property Tax Bill (Maricopa: townhouse, assessment, schools)

[artvandelay]

Can anyone direct me to an office, or web site, where I can get instructions or forms necessary to appeal my assessed value? I've never done this before, but I know that year my assessed value increased 20% (2006 to 2007 valuation) while my home value definitely decreased in that time period. Do previous under-assessments (2005 and 2006) have any impact for justifying one or two over-assessments?

[alterego]

Maricopa County Assessor - Keith E. Russell, MAI - Homepage

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by artvandelay

Can anyone direct me to an office, or web site, where I can get instructions or forms necessary to appeal my assessed value? I've never done this before, but I know that year my assessed value increased 20% (2006 to 2007 valuation) while my home value definitely decreased in that time period. Do previous under-assessments (2005 and 2006) have any impact for justifying one or two over-assessments?

Assessments are for two year periods, not one year. So the big jump in 2007 (based on 2006 market) is still in effect even though the values have dropped. The next round of assessments should reflect today's lower values. We're all in the same boat. Grab an oar.

[artvandelay]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Assessments are for two year periods, not one year. So the big jump in 2007 (based on 2006 market) is still in effect even though the values have dropped. The next round of assessments should reflect today's lower values. We're all in the same boat. Grab an oar.

Man, that stinks. The assessor's site had a link about appeals, and when you click on it, it says "page does not exist". I wonder if they'll raise the rate to offset the value losses.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by artvandelay

Man, that stinks. The assessor's site had a link about appeals, and when you click on it, it says "page does not exist". I wonder if they'll raise the rate to offset the value losses.

That is the key question, because the assessed values are only a part of the story. Some tax increases are limited by law no matter what happens to assessed value, but things like bond issues are not and go up and down with the assessed values. But I think there will be a reduction in the tax bills for the next two years. Maybe not as much as they went up though.

[tripper76]

I'm curious about this as well. I am just about to close on my first home and am completely clueless about what is normal for taxes. My mother seems to think mine are high. She pays $800 for a townhouse that sold for 220k 3 years ago. I am paying $1200 for a SFH that I paid 125k for this week. My 09 assessed value was 160k. Her's was 172k.

When I go to the website to request a form, it says the deadline was April 15th. I wonder when that opens up again. And when is the next valuation period? 2010?

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by tripper76

I'm curious about this as well. I am just about to close on my first home and am completely clueless about what is normal for taxes. My mother seems to think mine are high. She pays $800 for a townhouse that sold for 220k 3 years ago. I am paying $1200 for a SFH that I paid 125k for this week. My 09 assessed value was 160k. Her's was 172k.

When I go to the website to request a form, it says the deadline was April 15th. I wonder when that opens up again. And when is the next valuation period? 2010?

The thing that can really make a difference is bonds. If you live in a new area of town chances are you have bonds for schools, roads, bridges, police stations, fire stations, you name it. Taxes are higher in Pinal too, I have heard if that is where you live.