Carroll County supervisors hear widespread public concern over reassessments as budget options reviewed

Residents packed the Carroll County Board of Supervisors’ public hearing March 24 to protest recent property reassessments that many said would sharply raise their tax bills, while county staff and supervisors reviewed budget options and how much of county savings might be used to lower the advertised tax rate.

The most immediate concern came during the advertised-tax-rate public hearing. “I live in Fancy Gap, and my taxes went up 60%,” said Tony Marshall, a Fancy Gap resident. Other residents described single-parcel increases they said reached 49% and higher. “My house and the land the value increased $70,000, which was like a 49% increase,” said Nancy Beasley. Aaron Hager, who said he built a house three years ago, told the supervisors: “As it stands right now, even if the tax rate was reduced to 40¢, my real estate taxes will increase 40%.”

The concerns focused on how reassessments were calculated, inconsistent increases among neighboring parcels, and limited public notice of appeal and hearing procedures. A resident who filed an appeal said she had been told the reassessment hearing would be on a different day;…