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Assessor warns Stewart County land values likely to rise with 2027 reappraisal; warns of potential rental reclassification
Summary
Assessor Tim Boren told residents Stewart County faces a 2027 reappraisal after a 2024 current-value update and expects assessed values—especially land—to rise; he also warned a state comptroller initiative could reclassify rental properties to a higher assessment rate, raising taxes.
Tim Boren, Stewart County assessor of property, told a community briefing that Tennessee's reappraisal process will place the county on a 2027 reappraisal after a 2024 current-value update (CVU) and that preliminary indicators show assessed values are likely to increase next year, with land seeing the largest gains.
"Reappraisal is a state required process where all property values are reviewed and updated to reflect current market conditions," Tim said, describing the state's 4-, 5- or 6-year cycles and noting Stewart County has been on a six-year cycle (last full reappraisal in 2021). He said the assessor's office and the state's pre-reappraisal meeting show assessed values will rise, and urged residents to be prepared for higher assessments when values are finalized.
Tim explained how assessed values are calculated: residential property is taxed on 25% of appraised value (commercial at 40%); he gave an example in which a $177,500 home yields an assessed value of $44,003.75 and then cited the county tax rate used in his example (1.4862) to show how the county portion of the bill is computed.
He also advised property owners about options that can limit tax exposure: Greenbelt classification (agricultural, forest, open space) requires at least 15 acres and can substantially lower the land portion of taxes; forest management plans can be completed through the assessor/trustee offices rather than contracting a private forester.
Tim cautioned that some out-of-area buyers are purchasing marketed rural parcels sight-unseen and later discover lots lack septic and well infrastructure (or did not 'perk'), leaving homeowners with significant unexpected costs and living in temporary housing while issues are resolved.
Finally, Tim raised a policy concern: he said the state comptroller is pushing counties to treat single-family rental properties as commercial for assessment purposes (assessing at 40% rather than 25%), which would raise taxes on owners and likely be passed to renters. "If he pushes it on down here...I'll fight it till the end," Tim said, noting similar changes have already occurred in some counties near Nashville.
Tim outlined the appeals process and practical steps for residents who think their property is over-assessed: request an on-site review, gather documentation (recent appraisals or photos of removed structures) and appear before the local equalization board (typically meeting June 1) with the burden of proof on the taxpayer. He provided the assessor's office phone number for follow-up (232-5252).
