Floyd County assessor explains how to appeal property assessments; resident urges review of area-wide valuation method

A Floyd County resident told the Board of Commissioners on Tuesday that an automated, areawide assessment process increased his property’s assessed value even though his home has unrepaired storm damage, and County Assessor Terry Watson described the statutory, mass-appraisal rules the assessor’s office uses and the appeals path residents can follow.

Resident P.J. Moore said his house rose about $24,500 in assessed value after a storm-related sump pump failure and subsequent water damage, and he asked whether the assessor had discretion to reduce assessments without a homeowner appeal. Moore said the areawide approach used for valuations “doesn’t work for some of us,” and that a homeowner who has damage or unusual circumstances may feel the system treats every property the same.

Assessor Terry Watson and Chief Deputy Appraiser Amanda explained that state law directs assessors to use mass-appraisal methods, including state-provided cost tables and market factors by neighborhood. Watson described mass appraisal as a method that groups similar properties by neighborhood and applies depreciation and market factors, and said the county has about 40,000 parcels—so field inspection of every property is not routine.

Watson and Amanda said homeowners who believe an assessment is incorrect should file a formal appeal; the assessor’s office provides a downloadable appeal form on its website and will accept recent private appraisals or comparable multiple-listing sales as supporting documentation. Watson said the county’s Board of Appeals reviews properties individually, and encouraged residents to appear in person if they want a detailed review. He also said state legislation prevents increases to a taxpayer’s assessment as a result of filing an appeal in the current year; the assessor can correct clerical errors and such corrections can affect future years’ assessments but cannot be used to raise a current-year assessment at appeal.

Resident Moore said he would use the appeal process. Watson said the assessor’s office had already adjusted some neighborhoods after reviewing market data and would publish any formal corrections. The board did not take a formal vote on assessments at the meeting.

Watson said the assessor’s office had looked at roughly 1,000 appeals in the prior year and that the county’s property-tax Board of Appeals meets monthly to consider appeals. Watson and Amanda advised residents to include recent appraisals or MLS comparables with an appeal to give the appeals board material it can use for a case-by-case review.