Union County board upholds county valuations in three appeals by Hayes Norris

The Union County Board of Equalization and Review voted to accept county valuations for three parcels owned by That 4, Inc., represented at the hearing by Hayes Norris. County staff presented recent comparable-sales analyses and adjustments; Norris had challenged the assessments using sales he pulled from the county’s online property-picker tool.

Norris told the board he based his valuation arguments on sales the county tool returned. “I pulled up all the comps using your property picker tool, and, that's how I chose this,” he said during oral remarks. He argued the county's assessments rose sharply and said he used the tool to find comparable houses of similar size and quality.

County staff member Dana Chastain responded that county analysts reviewed multiple comparable sales, excluded some outliers and problem sales (for example, listings with realtor notes of “cash only” or “need[ing] repair”), and narrowed their analysis to recent, relevant transactions. Chastain said the county’s analysis produced…