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Laurens County staff say reassessment could move many properties into higher value ranges; 90‑day appeal window to follow
Summary
County officials told the March 9 council meeting that updated assessment schedules show substantial market‑value increases and explained the appeals process: notices will be mailed this summer and taxpayers will have 90 days from notice to appeal; staff emphasized reassessment is not itself a tax increase and the state requires a millage rollback.
County officials on March 9 updated the Laurens County Council on the ongoing five‑year reassessment, saying the county’s new value schedules reflect substantial market increases and explaining how residents can appeal new values.
"Reassessment itself is not a countywide tax increase," the presenter said, adding that updated schedules show many properties moving into higher ranges and that overall increases are "somewhere between 50 and 60%" compared with the last revaluation five years ago. The presenter explained that state law requires a millage rollback after reassessment, which prevents counties from using reassessment alone to increase revenue.
Officials said the county is in the installation phase of the reassessment (data input and valuation work). Staff warned that taxable value at reassessment is limited to a 15% increase from the prior taxable value unless a qualifying event (for example, purchase or new construction) changes that calculation. The presenter told residents they should expect notices this summer and that they will have 90 days from the mailing date to file an appeal; waiting until the fall tax bill may be too late.
Why it matters: A countywide reassessment resets market values that underlie property taxes. Even when reassessment results in higher market values, the millage rollback and the 15% limit on taxable‑value increases are designed to limit annual tax impacts in the reassessment year. Still, some property owners may see substantial changes in assessed market values and should be prepared to review notices and understand the local appeals process.
Details and resources: The presenter said the South Carolina Department of Revenue will hold a millage training session in the county building later this month; the county also plans to fill vacancies on the board of assessment appeals (three seats open) and encouraged council members to submit nominations. Staff emphasized transparency and urged residents to pick up preparedness and guidance materials available at the building.
Ending: County staff will continue to update the council and the public as notices are mailed and as the appeal period approaches; residents seeking to contest values should watch for the summer mailing and act within the 90‑day window.
