Property Tax Day is again upon us. Many people saw a very large increase in the valuation of their real estate due the recent re-appraisal. Some people also saw substantial increases in the amount of taxes owed due to the re-appraisal while others received tax notices that were basically the same as last year. An important fact to consider for those that had a large increase in appraisal, even if it didn’t affect your tax bill this year, is the possibility that your future taxes in subsequent years can be increased by simply re-adjusting your mill levy which would then increase your taxes. This could be accomplished by the taxing authorities without notice and without any change to your property valuation. The Department of Revenue needs to be accountable for the proposed administrative rules which they are seeking to pass retroactively. You can contact your local representatives to demand that they support a legislative analysis of these proposed rules. The Department of Revenue will be increasing their taxing authority as it now stands. Please investigate and be wary of this back door very likely possibility of the government reaching deeper into your pocket books.
You can file an appeal of your taxable valuation, but the time is past for this year as you only have 30 days from the time the assessment notice is mailed. You can however file one for next year after January 1, 2010. You can find a blank form for doing this as a link on the website www.mtpropertyappraisal.com You also should obtain the 2009 Property Record Card from your local Department of Revenue office. This notice contains all of the details of “added calculations” used by the Department of Revenue to increase values.
The Havre Daily Corrector previously reported information about a lawsuit in Federal Court challenging the unfairness and inadequacies of the re-appraisal process and you can read updates of the progress at www.mtpropertyappraisal.com
What exactly do you get for the increased taxes? better water? beacuse my water has been brown for several days at a time three times in the last 2 months? Better sidewalks? Becuase I have to walk in the street to walk my kids to school. Better street cleaning and plowing? doubt it.
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