During a recent government meeting, discussions centered on the assessment of non-ad valorem taxes for vacant land and the significant increase in fire assessments for certain properties.

A key point of contention arose regarding the assessment methodology for vacant land. Joel, a member of the board, explained that the annual study considers call data and available resources for each land use category, including vacant land. The board has voted to discount vacant land assessments by 50% due to the absence of structures, despite allocating a full amount based on the budget. This has led to concerns about the fairness of the assessment system, particularly when comparing properties of varying sizes. One board member highlighted the disparity in costs for fire department responses to different sizes of vacant land, questioning the logic behind assessing a quarter-acre and a hundred-acre parcel at the same rate.

Additionally, David Gay, owner of Grassroots Airport, raised concerns about a staggering 534% increase in fire assessments for his property, which jumped from $1,528 to $8,156. Gay emphasized that the classification of his hangars as warehouses rather than aircraft hangars was intended to reflect the unique nature of his small airport, which operates with single-engine aircraft and does not engage in commercial flights. He argued that the current assessment disproportionately impacts his business and called for a reevaluation of how such properties are classified and taxed.

The discussions reflect ongoing concerns about the equity of tax assessments and the need for a more nuanced approach to property classifications, particularly for unique land uses. The board is expected to address these issues further in upcoming meetings.