Noble County hearing adjusts multiple 2025 property assessments; residents urge relief for seniors

NOBLE COUNTY, Ind. — The Noble County assessor’s administrative review panel met Dec. 19 and approved assessor-proposed changes to several 2025 property assessments while hearing repeated complaints from residents about rising property-tax bills and how recent state law changes affect homestead deductions.

Ben Castle, the Noble County assessor, opened the session and read the statutory hearing script for each appeal. Taxpayers appeared in person or were noted absent for several cases. Sam Meyer, representing his wife Crystal Schulz, said the family had paid “roughly $6,000 in property taxes for a 15 to 16 acre parcel” after inheriting the land through an estate and asked the board to explain a sudden jump in the bill. Assessor staff advised the family to provide a current appraisal and to schedule an interior inspection so staff could reassess condition and grading.

Several senior residents spoke during appeals. Nancy Ziegler, 81, told the board she felt the tax burden was unfair on fixed incomes: “I’m 81 years old and my taxes have gone up and I feel like I have paid paid my dues over the years.” Staff and board members pointed taxpayers to new provisions in the 2024–25 state tax changes (referred to in the hearing as SB 1/SEA 1) that alter homestead deductions and add temporary tax credits;…