Reappraisal Leads to Higher Property Taxes
I had responded to a small flyer
enclosed with last years tax bill about the possibility of doing a
“kill and combine” on two adjacent vacant lots with my primary
residence to save on my property tax bill. My wife and I went
through the process of combining the lots into our main tax bill and
sighed with relief about struggling to make this year’s payment.
However, when we received our new property tax bill last week, we
were stunned to see the increase had doubled our taxes from last
year. I was told by a neighbor the kill and combine had opened up my
primary residence to a new appraisal and our eight-year-old base
appraisal had been pried out from under the 3% increase cap placed on
homes by the “Save our Homes Act.” I walked into the third floor
Charlotte County tax appraisers office with my newly received 2005
tax bill. Answers! I wanted answers!
After the pleasant but totally
frustrated Debbie, the woman behind the counter, had printed off
several pages of information and meticulously explained how the bill
had gotten from point A (last years bill) to point B (this years
bill), she decided I needed to talk with the appraiser himself as I
wasn’t grasping the heart of the process much less the details.
The appraiser was no other than Charlotte County Tax Appraiser, Frank
Desquin.
Debbie and I walked across the hall to
the offices and after a few short moments, Frank introduced himself
and welcomed me into his office.
The “kill and combine” had not
affected our primary residence, Frank assured me. Debbie nodded her
head in agreement. Indeed, the protected appraisal amount is clearly
shown on the printouts. It showed the 3% increase, and that was all
there was against the residence. The drastic increase was the
reappraised property values, which were added after the first of the
year. I had made my assessment on the old taxable values from last
year when I had asked for the “Kill and Combine.” That was
before Charley and the phenomenal increase in property values.
“The Protect Our Homes Act” applies
to the primary residence only, and only if it has the benefit of
Homestead Exemption. Ad Valorum taxes are those based on the
appraised value of the house, which differs from home to home, owner
to owner. The Act does not apply to non-Ad Valorum taxes, such as
those assessed by your Municipal Service Benefit Unit. Those taxes
are the same for every property owner, regardless of assessment and
may increase without regard to the “Save Our Homes Act.”
While no one wants to pay taxes on
unrealized gains, which is exactly what increases in property taxes
are, we will be protected NEXT year from Ad Valorum increases above
3% from what we pay this year. On the other hand, let me know if you
are looking for waterfront property, I just might have a couple of
lots.
George Mindling
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