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York County board approves broad assessed-value cuts after storm damage claims
Summary
The York County Board of Equalization approved assessor recommendations to lower assessed values on dozens of properties after hail and tornado damage, removing destroyed grain bins and applying 20% adjustments to many residences; files will be kept for review at next year's assessment.
The York County Board of Equalization on July 26 approved a slate of assessor recommendations to reduce assessed values for dozens of parcels damaged or destroyed in recent storms, the board said at its meeting.
The county assessor explained the adjustments are to assessed value for tax purposes — not insurance replacement cost — and described the distinction between "damaged" and "destroyed." The assessor said many homes showing broken windows, siding damage or roof damage were recommended for a 20% assessment reduction; structures that were completely removed, such as destroyed grain bins, were removed from the assessment roll.
"This is an adjustment on the value for assessment for taxes, not on the replacement cost," the county assessor said, explaining the Form 425 process that governs claims filed for damage between Jan. 1 and July 1. The assessor told the board that for claims with visible exterior damage (broken windows, siding, hail-dented roofing) a 20% adjustment was an appropriate uniform approach for many properties.
Board members moved and approved the assessor's recommendations in roll-call votes for each docketed parcel. Examples discussed in the meeting included a 20% adjustment recommended for the residence of Nick Wallenberg after photos showed broken windows and siding; large agricultural losses in several cases resulted in removal of grain bins or partial write-downs of machine sheds; and MDK Farms had one house declared uninhabitable and a 75% adjustment for that parcel, per the assessor's presentation.
The assessor reported that, when added across certain reviewed files, an initial total of about $896,239 in assessed value had been reduced to roughly $881,722 after recommended adjustments. Several large farm accounts reflected multi-structure changes: one property with multiple damaged machine sheds and bins recorded a six-figure drop in assessed improvements after bins were removed or written down.
Board members briefly questioned implementation timelines and the process for returning properties to the roll. The assessor said the county will keep each file and that if repairs are completed by Jan. 1 of the following year the property will be reassessed for 2023. "This file will be maintained in the county assessor's office and the new assessor when he comes in will have this file then to go through and determine the value for 2023," the assessor said.
Most motions to accept the assessor's recommendations carried on unanimous roll call among members present. The board concluded the damaged-and-destroyed docket and moved on to several tax-roll corrections later in the meeting.
The board adjourned after finishing the docket; the assessor reminded residents that homeowners and businesses with additional concerns should contact the assessor's office to ensure any eligible claims are captured.
