150 continue revaluation concern

A presentation from Orange County Tax Assessor John Smith stirred up more controversy about new property revaluations at a meeting Tuesday.

Orange County residents said they were confused by the mechanics of the revaluation which is done every four years to readjust property tax rates.

Many residents said they are disappointed to hear that no property owners have walked out of Smith's office with a value adjusted on the spot.

While officials are encouraging residents to appeal their revaluations on an individual basis" Smith said adjustments take time.

Residents also repeated their request to Orange County Commissioners to throw out the new numbers and do another revaluation that would better reflect county housing market values.

""The average person out there has no idea what (Smith) says"" Orange County resident Ray Kirby said.

Smith said he expects the number of people appealing their valuations this year to double what it was during the last revaluation, in 2005.

Residents have turned out to county meetings to protest the revaluations in numbers.

The Orange County chapter of Freedom Works, a national anti-tax organization, has been organizing what's being called the tax revolt.""

About 150 residents" some with signs crowded into Tuesday's meeting.

 Smith noted that the average increase since the last valuation in 2005 is 24 percent. He also said about half of county properties had value increases of less than or equal to 24 percent.

Cries of mistrust rang out in the room since some residents said their property revaluations resulted in an increase of more than 500 percent.

Commissioners questioned Smith about the roughly half of residents who faced revaluations above the 24 percent average.

If the county adopts a revenue- neutral tax rate which would lower the tax rate to compensate for increases in property values everyone above that average will pay more taxes.

Commissioners will decide on a tax rate by the end of June.

Residents said Smith's numbers only made things worse. Boos were heard on many occasions as Smith presented his statistics.

In asking commissioners to throw out the valuations residents are also challenging County Attorney Geoff Gledhill's claim that the county cannot legally do so.

The county decided years ago to update property values every four years despite state laws requiring it every eight. Gledhill asserts that the county can't redo the revaluations.

Smith suggested that the county would lose money if commissioners rescinded the valuations.

The board accepted Smith's comments and decided to hold their opinions for a later time.



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