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What
are
the responsibilities of the Board of Review?
The Assessor turns the assessment roll over to the Board of
Review, who can increase or decrease any improper assessment. The
Board has no control over millage rates for property taxes.
Who
are the members of the Board of Review?
Charters vary regarding membership. According to The
Wyandotte City Charter of 1926 the members of the board are: The
Mayor, City Assessor, City Clerk, City Treasurer and the City
Attorney.
When
does the board meet?
The board meets on the Tuesday following the 3rd Monday
of the month of February. This also is unique to the City of
Wyandotte Charter of 1926.
Are
the meetings open to the public?
Yes, under the Open Meetings Act. Anyone can attend the
meetings including members of the press.
Who
may file an appeal?
Any person may file an appeal regarding their assessment
of the property they own within the board’s jurisdiction.
By law, non-resident property owners can
appeal by letter. Wyandotte also allows residents who are unable
to attend in person to appeal by letter.
A designated agent may also be appointed to
appeal on the behalf of the property owner, with proper
documentation.
How
can I make an effective appeal of value?
The taxpayer must give evidence to show that the
assessment is incorrect. The Board of Review needs good reasons
to alter an assessment. It is imperative to be able to answer the
questions “What do you think your property is worth?” and “What
are you basing that opinion on?”
All
assessments are based on the sales of similar properties. You may
hire a professional appraiser, use a recent appraisal (within one
year of the assessment you are appealing) or you can look at sales
in your community and compare them to your home. The assessor’s
office may give you sales information. Remember, this is your
appeal, and the paperwork should be done by you.
How
can I review and compare sales?
You should look for similar homes with similar
features. For example, if your neighbor’s home sold for $100,000.
and is identical to yours with the exception of a garage you
should subtract or add $6,000 to $8,000 from the assessment.
Other recent sales in your area should be reviewed the same way.
You need to be especially careful if the sales are different from
you home in age, size, or quality. The hardest part is to remain
objective.
Are the Board of Review
decisions permanent?
Yes. The decision is binding for the current tax year.
The
property will then be subjected to yearly review of sale studies
or improvements.
How
will I know of the board’s decision?
The Board of Review will not give you an immediate
decision. You will be notified in writing as soon as possible
along with information regarding the appeal process. The deadline
for appeal to the Tribunal is June 30th.
Should
I protest?
The Board of Review functions in many ways like a court
although its procedures are less formal. Like a court, it has the
authority to decide on certain issues based on evidence.
In deciding whether to appeal your assessment to the Board
of Review, you should first answer these two questions:
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Does your protest
involve
an issue that the
Board of Review has authority to decide.
-
Do
you have supporting evidence?
How
should I present my protest?
If you are protesting on the value of your property, you should be
prepared to justify why your property would not sell for twice the
assessed value.
If
you are appealing based on hardship, documentation will be
necessary. You should obtain the necessary forms before
proceeding to the Board of Review.
The better the information you bring to the
board the better they will be able to make a fair determination.
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