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The real estate market is down in Fairfax County (web | news) , but property tax assessments are up. Many homeowners wonder how that's possible.
Some called 7 On Your Side for answers and while he's not the tax man, Ross McLaughlin knows what's going on.
Ross McLaughlin:
The big concern: some people think Fairfax County is fudging the numbers to make up for a drop in revenue. In fact the county has been hearing so much about it they've posted a special video on their website.
Story:
Fairfax County Video: "People who own homes in Fairfax County are concerned with the value of the property."
THEY'VE GOT THAT RIGHT.
JUST ASK ANYBODY ON THIS STREET.
Bob Fritz: "It doesn't seem like it's right, it doesn't seem like it's fair."
HE'S TALKING ABOUT THIS. A 100 THOUSAND DOLLAR INCREASE IN THE ASSESSED VALUE OF HIS LAND. AND HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE...A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS GOT HIT.
Bob Fritz: "I would like you to find out why the assessment did what it did."
OKAY. LET'S HEAD TO FAIRFAX COUNTY HEADQUARTERS.
Merni Fitzgerald: "I'm very sorry if Mr. Fritz misunderstood information that was given to him."
IT WASN'T JUST HIM THEY GOT SO MANY COMPLAINTS THEY REASSESSED AND SENT OUT 190 THOUSAND NEW NOTICES.
Bob Fritz: "They just adjusted the breakdown to make everybody happy or something."
HERE'S WHAT THE COUNTY DID. STATE LAW REQUIRES THEM TO BREAK OUT THE TOTAL ASSESSED VALUE BETWEEN LAND AND BUILDING. BOB'S LAND VALUE INCREASED ON THE FIRST NOTICE AND THE BUILDING VALUE WENT DOWN SOMEWHAT. BUT WHEN THE SECOND ASSESSMENT CAME OUT ALL THEY DID WAS MOVE VALUE FROM THE LAND AND INCREASED THE BUILDING VALUE. HOWEVER,THE TOTAL ASSESSMENT DID NOT CHANGE.
Bob Fritz: "Doesn't make any sense to me."
AND NO WONDER BECAUSE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY PROPERTY VALUES ARE DOWN NEARLY 4 PERCENT..BUT NOT BOB AND HAS NEIGHBORS ALL HAVE TO PAY MORE.
Merni Fitzgerald: "Sometimes we make mistakes."
AND IT'S ABOUT FIXING THOSE MISTAKE WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE. THE ONLY WAY IS TO FILE AN APPEAL AND THE COUNTY EXPECTS TO GET THEM, BECAUSE THIS YEAR THEY'VE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE.
Merni Fitzgerald: "Please appeal because we do not look at individual properties to see if a mistake had been made unless someone has appealed their assessment."
IT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
Bob Fritz: "I'm willing to pay my fair share of taxes but I don't want to pay more."
Ross McLaughlin:
WHO DOES? BUT IF YOU APPEAL YOU TAKE A RISK..YOU MIGHT HOPE IT GOES DOWN BUT IT COULD GO UP BECAUSE YOU MAY HAVE MADE IMPROVEMENTS TO YOUR PROPERTY SINCE THE LAST TIME AN ASSESSOR TOOK A REALLY CLOSE LOOK. FAIRFAX COUNTY'S DEADLINE FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL IS APRIL 18TH.
Fairfax County Tax Administration Website: www.fairfaxcounty.gov
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