Pat Ritchie, hearing officer for an administrative hearing in Vermillion County, adjourned a property tax appeal Oct. 23 after hearing testimony and photographic evidence from the property owner, who said repeated flooding and neighborhood blight make the county assessor’s $157,400 2025 valuation too high.

John, the petitioner, told the panel he bought the house 51 years ago and that the county’s assessed value for the property at 1002 South Eighth Street in Clinton is now $157,400 — land $14,600 and improvements $142,800. He said the assessed value rose roughly $38,000 this year, a 31–32% increase on top of an 84% increase over five years that he previously contested.

“The neighborhood is the worst neighborhood in Clinton,” John said, describing repeated flooding and property damage. He said basement water intrusion has occurred about three times that he recalls and that flood water has surrounded his house about 15 times. He told the hearing he cannot afford flood insurance and described ongoing problems with a neighboring property and unfinished sidewalks and streets.

Pat Ritchie opened the hearing by noting it was held "pursuant to the laws of the state of Indiana as found in Indiana Code 6-1.1-1-1" and that the petition before the panel is petition number 83-002-25-0-5-00002 for parcel 83-13-22-220-007-002 for assessment year 2025. Ritchie told participants the hearing was being recorded for the county’s YouTube channel and that a decision might be made at the hearing or taken under advisement.

County representatives reviewed the submitted photos and sales comparisons. Cathy Gogold, representing the county, said interior photographs indicated the dwelling’s condition was likely overstated on the assessor’s roll and that the house should “probably be listed in fair condition.” Gogold said the assessor’s office had recognized a flood influence on properties in the neighborhood, generally at 20 percent, and that the petitioner’s land carried a higher influence — cited in the hearing as 39 percent — because the parcel “dumps into” the low area more than others nearby.

Gogold presented a comp analysis showing sale prices ranging from about $40 to $132 per square foot, with a mean and median roughly $74–$75 per square foot; the petitioner’s house, she said, priced at about $68 per square foot under the current assessment. She told the panel that, on the basis of available sales and the assessor’s review, the assessed value was consistent with recent market activity.

The petitioner displayed interior and exterior photographs documenting past flooding, foundation repairs and settling in the older portion of the home. He said the last time floodwaters rose high enough to cross Seventh Street and flood a broader area was June 2008, but that lesser events and water around the house had occurred multiple times since. He also described improving the home’s front façade after retirement, and ongoing expenses to seal foundations and install a sump pump.

Ritchie concluded the hearing by saying he would adjourn the case and take the evidence under advisement. "I will adjourn this case until further notice," Ritchie said. He added that the panel would not accept additional evidence since none had been requested during the hearing and that the petitioner would receive the determination by mail on Form 115. Ritchie noted the petitioner’s right to appeal the county’s determination to the Indiana Board of Tax Review.

The hearing record shows the petitioner previously pursued informal conferences with assessor staff and earlier appeals of vacant lots and prior assessments; the panel will issue a written decision and the petitioner may appeal to the Indiana Board of Tax Review if dissatisfied.

Votes at a glance: No formal vote was taken at the Oct. 23 hearing. The case was adjourned and taken under advisement; a written determination will be mailed.