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Auditor: Revaluation means drop in property taxes for most

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By Dave Greber, Staff Writer Updated 8:01 PM Monday, December 14, 2009

HAMILTON — It might only be enough to finance a Happy Meal or a weighty Christmas card, but residents across Butler County should see a decrease in property taxes on their tax bills next month, county Auditor Roger Reynolds said Monday, Dec. 14.

And, he said, amid a recession, every little bit helps.

A recently completed revaluation of the county’s 55 residential taxing districts found home prices decreased by an average of 4.7 percent countywide, Reynolds said. That includes decreases found during the past year of between 1.5 percent to more than 10 percent in individual districts.

Reynolds pledged to complete the off-year revaluation last year because of what were perceived as false increases during the appraisal of 2008, which took into account previous years before the housing bubble burst.

“It’s an equalization of the county,” Reynolds said. “And we did it based on how the sales were shaping up.

“We’re talking about a few dollars, but I think that’s important still,” he added. “If I can get a few dollars back in (residents’) pockets, I think that’s important, instead of being overtaxed until we do the next revaluation.”

Collectively, Middletown saw the biggest decrease in home prices during the revaluation of nearly 8.5 percent, while the city of Oxford saw the smallest decrease of 2.16 percent.

Hamilton’s average property value decrease ranged from 4 percent in the 1st Ward to 8.7 percent in the 2nd Ward, for a citywide average of just less than 5 percent, the data shows.

Information gathered during the revaluation — a process completed during a time it was not mandated by the state — will be sent to the state tax commissioner in the coming weeks. The state will then determine the decrease in property taxes for individual residents and send the information back to the county. Reynolds said any changes should appear on the first of two 2010 tax bills, which are set to be delivered during the second week of January.

Reynolds also said each resident will receive a letter notifying them of the recent revaluation by the end of this month.

The amount residents would likely see on the first of two 2010 tax bills will depend on the percentage drop in their home value and the size of local levies — such as those for police, fire and school districts.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2112 or dgreber@coxohio.com.

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no government entity should own my home!!!!! END PROPERTY TAXES NOW11111111

eee
11:07 AM, 12/16/2009

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Ask Nancy Nix and the rest of the gang how they feel about the revaluations/reynolds!
And why can you only dispute the valuation between January and March? Silly.

I'd sure like to get reynolds hand out of my pocket.
I wouldn't take a leak on him if was on fire!

TaxedToDeath
8:52 AM, 12/16/2009

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Bull. Last year they lowered the property taxes on my home, but they increased the value of the land. My home was 100k and it went to 96k. But my land value went from 70k, to 125k. So my taxes went up. Very unfair and the only reason it was done this way is to counteract the decrease in property tax income.
Many people raised heck over this shady revaluation, and that's why reynolds is doing this. He's trying to cover his tail so that he can get voted in next time around.
Not gonna happen.

TaxedToDeath
8:46 AM, 12/16/2009

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You should still contest the property value he assigns you, simple get your house appraised and fill out the paperwork with the county. They are required by law to deal with it Jan 1-Mar 1. It may save you a whole lot more $$$ and it will be your own "out of cycle" revaluation. And they won't have a thing to say about it.

Chipchick
1:34 PM, 12/15/2009

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Property taxes have went down more than their adjustment. Try to sell a house, realize the difference in what you think it is worth and what you can get for it and think about the property taxes you have been paying on the difference.

NotEnough
10:54 AM, 12/15/2009

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