Be sure to check your Property Appraisal this year. Many homeowners in the area have been hit by a really big increase, and according to the letter from Jeff Rader, our County Commissioner, property appraisals should not have increased since 2006 if you have not made changes to your home. To view your assessment and appeal online: http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/PropertyAppraisal/realSearch.asp
Excerpted From Commissioner Rader (read the whole thing): Annual Notices of Assessment hit homeowner’s mailboxes this week, and many constituents have called expressing concern about substantial increases in their tax appraisal this year. The appraisal determines the value of property against which taxes are assessed, and are a key factor in your tax bill. I was surprised to hear this, as the DeKalb County real property tax digest overall is down by 7.8% overall this year. Our office is seeking more information from the Assessor’s office and will be responding to individual inquiries. We will also report back to the public on any patterns of reappraisal or systemic deficiencies we discover. Until we are able to get to the bottom of this, please keep the following in mind:
- If you feel your property is not accurately appraised, please appeal your assessment. Instructions are included on the back page of your assessment notice, or on the internet at https://etax.dor.ga.gov.
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- You must appeal within 45 days to preserve your appeal rights, otherwise you lose the right to appeal until next year. My Notice of Assessment lists July 17, 2012 as the deadline.
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Over the past few years, the appraisal process has become much more volatile and controversial. As sales prices inflated during the real estate bubble, appraisals did likewise. The General Assembly capped this inflationary appreciation for County taxes in 2006. If you haven’t moved, your assessed value should not have increased above the 2006 level, unless you have made new improvements to your home.