Summit County Home Assesments
I read this Opinion written on Summitdaily.com and thought it was important for our community to know about. As I mentioned it is just one persons point of view and there is a link at the end of the article to it, where over 80 people have commented giving there opinions as well.
“Dear Madame Assessor,
It is appreciated that you are trying to do your job but …
Your estimation of my home is way beyond any possible sales price. Nowhere in your published information is a 31.5 percent increase justified. In fact, your bar charts show a 2.9 percent increase for the period overall. As for time adjustment, it is phony, arbitrary, unrealistic and capricious for unsold properties which have only an estimated price, which is not a real sales proven value.
Now let’s get the facts right on my property, since your facts are not correct. The house was originally built in 1967, with subsequent remodeling. There is one bedroom, not three. There is a two car garage, not five. As for view, it is one lot away from I-70; the traffic can be seen and the associated noise is evident.
Certain sources of income are available to live here. Social Security, which will not increase in 2010 or 2012. Some savings and investments, which produce dividends, but the market has lowered their value. Rental of some storage space, which is minimal income. In truth, we could qualify for low-income housing, or maybe homeless housing, like in Denver.
What costs are incurred? Utilities, not including water and sewer, since we are in the county — these increase regularly, without control, since the government rubber-stamps any requested increase. Medication, which increases with age. Food, which is bought on sale whenever possible. Taxes, the senior discount is to be removed for at least a year. Life insurance, which is fixed and necessary. Medical insurance, which is required, necessary and increasing. Repairs to the house as required. The mortgage on the house has been paid.
Where to get the funds to pay for your assessed evaluation, an increase of $1,300? Reduce food costs; we are already very conservative. Cut medicine, which is necessary to live. Cash-in savings, thus reducing the income by lowering the dividends — Catch 22. Reduce utilities, already being very careful. Let the house go unprepared and be destroyed, in value and salability. Abandoning the insurances is not an option.
The bottom line is: you are taxing us out of our home!
Perhaps the alternative is to reduce government spending, and to live within your means, as we do.
Our estimated price is based on Frisco Terrace Properties, our neighborhood. We used the adjusted sales price per foot, eliminating the highest and lowest values. Thus the average price per square foot is $337.68, which is from your phony adjusted price. Therefore, using the square feet in the house, the evaluation should be approximately, or less than, $758,061.” To read the comments left by others please click here.