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Resident alleges inconsistent tax assessments; board asks state Department of Revenue for review
Summary
A Washington County resident, Bernadine Norman, told commissioners her property assessment and taxes rose despite qualifying for age/disability exemptions; the assessor’s office said neighborhood sales justified value increases, and the board asked staff to request a state Department of Revenue review.
A Washington County resident told county commissioners she has experienced repeated increases in her property’s assessed value and taxes since buying the home in late 2019, and asked the board for help. The board instructed county staff to request a state Department of Revenue review.
At the meeting, Bernadine Norman said her property’s assessed value and taxes have risen annually even though she has not made improvements and believes she qualifies for age- or disability-related exemptions. “I have not made any improvements to the home … my taxes keep going up every year,” she told commissioners.
The county assessor’s representative told the board that rising sales prices in the neighborhood drove reassessments and that it is not feasible to single out one property for an exception. The assessor recommended requesting a state review to verify accuracy. The board asked the assessor’s office to contact the Department of Revenue and report back.
Why it matters: Property-assessment disputes affect taxpayers’ bills and precedent for valuation adjustments. The board asked staff to pursue a state-level review to confirm whether valuations and exemptions were applied correctly.
Staff said they will contact the Department of Revenue and keep Ms. Norman and the board informed of next steps; commissioners asked for an update when the state review is complete.
