Commission makes statement about property tax reappraisal

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – Commission Chairman Johnny Bruce read a statement regarding the current property tax reappraisal at the beginning of the commission meeting on Monday night.

TOP PHOTO: County Commission Chairman Johnny Bruce read a statement from the county commission regarding the property tax reappraisal at Monday’s workshop.

“In recent days the county commission has been receiving various questions about the upcoming re-appraisal, so here are the facts.

1. By state law the Campbell County Property Assessor is required to conduct a reappraisal every four, five or six years. Campbell County presently operates under a five-year cycle. The County Commission is hopeful that the General Assembly will adopt legislation that will enable reappraisal to occur every three years because of a multitude of issues that the five-year reappraisal cycle has caused.  
2. Values have significantly increased since the last reappraisal. This will cause the certified tax rate to be significantly lower.
3. Though the certified tax rate will be lower, the county commission cannot guarantee that your tax bill will be the same. It can increase. The certified tax rate only ensures that the amount of revenue the county receives via the property tax is the same as it would have been under the old assessments. Odds are if your tax bill goes up it also means someone else’s is going down – the County Commission has no control over the assessment of property.
4. If citizens are unhappy or feel that their property is overvalued as a result of this reappraisal, then you need to appeal to the County Board of Equalization.”
   
   

Commissioner Scott Kitts spoke and asked Bruce to confirm that the property tax reappraisal “is not causing us to raise the tax in Campbell County. We are not responsible for this,” Kitts said.

Bruce told him that was correct, and once again reiterated that if someone feels their property was “overvalued” to take it to the correct body.

The first step is to meet with the county property assessor and then with the Board of Equalization.

There is a short time frame for the public to meet with the board of Equalization, according to Commissioner Rusty Orick.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/10/2024-6AM)