No Property Tax Reassessment For One Local County

Tools

No Property Tax Reassessment For One Local County

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Sep 7, 2007 at 9:40 PM EST

Story Updated: Sep 12, 2007 at 6:36 AM EST

(WSBT) Elkhart County officials are breathing a sigh of relief. They will not have to reassess property taxes. But taxpayers aren't happy.

The property assessments were under review after the state expressed concern over whether homeowners saw more of a hike than businesses. That's because the numbers electronically submitted to state were incredibly high.

But after a review, the state discovered the assessor's office used outdated software that incorrectly transmitted the data. It has decided a reassessment will not be necessary.

Property tax bills were sent out more than a month ago. But lawns are still littered with eliminate property tax signs.

"It surprised a lot of people. What do you do when you are on a fixed income, and it raises it that much?" said Jeff Croume, an Elkhart County property owner who wanted the reassessment.

Some Elkhart county property owners say their tax bills only went up $50; others say it was thousands.

"I mean, what are you going to do?" said Donna Croume who also wanted the reassessment.

Less than three percent of Elkhart County's property owners appealed their bill. So, the county assessor says she was shocked when the county was under review for a reassessment.

"A lot of questions were whether commercial and industrial went up the same or proportionally to the residential assessments, and ours went up 6 to 23 percent," said Cathy Searcy, Elkhart County's assessor.

That's why the state sent the county a letter Thursday saying a reassessment wasn't needed.

A reassessment would have cost the county hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even though that money is being saved, some people say they'd rather have the reassessment.

"I just don't think there was a lot of thought going into the process," said Jeff.

Some taxpayers say a reassessment was needed because elderly property owners are being hit too hard.

"We are willing to work with it. But the people on fixed incomes, how are they going to work with it?" said Donna.

"I don't think it's right. I don't work out the way they thought it was going to do," said Jeff.

Elkhart County hopes to finish its appeals process this year.

It still has to update the computer system to comply with the state and to ensure the state gets the right numbers next year.

More Good Stuff

WSBT Weather

icon
Current Temp 35.7
°
More Weather

On Demand

More On Demand

Stock Quotes

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tonight On WSBTFull Schedule

7.00
Paid Programming
7.30
Jeopardy
8.00
The Mentalist
9.00
48 Hours Mystery
10.00
48 Hours Mystery
11.00
WSBT News
11.35
CSI: NY
12.35
CSI: NY
1.35
CSI: Miami

Question of The Day

Will the new health recommendations for women change your health screening habits?

E-mail your comments. We'll pick some to read during WSBT News at 5.

  • YES
  • NO
Today's Mortgage Rates