Value notices to be
issued by assessor
by Ivan
Foley
Landmark reporter
In late March, the Platte County Assessor's Office will
be sending notices for real estate valuation increases
to Platte County property owners.
Notices are mailed for new construction projects completed
in the county each year. But since 2003 is a reassessment
year, the assessor's office has reviewed land values throughout
the county, making adjustments to property values where
necessary.
Property owners that receive an envelope from the Platte
County Assessor's Office marked "Important Tax Information
Enclosed" should review the information immediately.
The notice will indicate last year's property value and
the new 2003 value.
Taxpayers can call the assessor's office and schedule
an informal hearing with one of the office's four appraisers
to review the appraisal between April 1 and June 6. The
next level of appeal after the informal is the Board of
Equalization hearings to consider taxpayer appeals that
begins in July. The deadline for filing a Board of Equalization
appeal is June 15.
The assessor's office is bound by law to keep property
values within 95 percent of the fair market value, which
is the price a property would bring if sold on the open
market.
Residential property values were last reassessed in 1997
following a period where residential property had not
been reassessed for quite awhile. As a result, many property
assessments increased dramatically and caused a hardship
for property owners.
"Generally, we are looking at much smaller increases
this year than in 1997," Platte County Assessor Christine
McQuitty said. "It's a huge undertaking, but the
reassessment process must be performed in a county developing
as quickly as Platte County. As long as property values
continue to increase, property assessments must also increase."
To schedule an informal hearing after receiving your
notice, contact the Platte County Assessor's Office at
(816) 858-3305 or 858-3316.
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