That letter you got from York County? Here’s what it means for your property taxes.
York County’s most recent property valuations come with questions, and tax increases for thousands of property owners.
York County mailed just shy of 119,000 letters to property owners on Sept. 16 with updated property values. The revaluation is mandated by law every five years. Most property values increased.
Kevin Madden, assistant county manager/treasurer, told York County Council when that group met Sept. 21 that he’d already received numerous calls with questions. Madden said the county will do what’s required with revaluation, and roll back the tax rate to stay revenue neutral. School district and municipal bodies make their own tax rate decisions.
“We’re being very transparent,” Madden told council members. “We’re doing what we’re supposed to do when reassessment happens.”
County spokesperson Trish Startup and staff from the county assessor’s office gathered answers to a few more questions York County property owners might have:
Is this a tax increase?
Some property owners will notice a decrease in taxes, some will stay the same and some will pay more taxes. Reassessment was not created to raise taxes. It is intended to distribute the taxes collected more fairly among all property owners. Because it has been five years since the last reassessment, of which most of those values were based on sales from 2013 and 2014, property values are likely to increase.
(State law requires a rollback of the county tax rate with revaluation to offset what would otherwise be an immediate tax increase based on higher property values. The county can later decide whether to keep, increase or decrease its tax rate.)
Which property values went up, which went down, and why?
Overall, York County has seen an increase in market value from the last reassessment which had an effective appraisal date of Dec. 31, 2014. However, there are some individual properties that may have decreased in market value due to certain characteristics. An example that may have caused a decrease in market value is the physical deterioration or demolition of a structure during the last five years.
When was the revaluation done?
Reassessments typically take three years to complete. The process began in 2017 and the effective appraisal date is Dec. 31, 2019.
If I don’t agree, how can I appeal? What information would I need?
Within 90 days of the date of assessment (date listed on the mailed notice) the taxpayer or his agent must file a written objection with the assessor to one of the following: the fair market value, the special use value, the assessment ratio, or the assessment.
The written objection must contain: the name, address and telephone number of the property tax payer; a description of the property in issue, by parcel ID number and situs (physical) address; a statement outlining reasons for the appeal (including any law or other authority upon which the taxpayer relies); the value and classification which the property taxpayer considers the fair market value, special use value (if applicable), and the proper classification; a statement and analysis of facts supporting the taxpayer’s position.
Visit yorkcountygov.com for more information.
When will I start paying taxes based on the new value?
Tax year 2020
How much more money does York County get, and how does the county use it?
The assessor’s office is only responsible for the valuation and assessment of all real property and mobile homes. The assessor does not determine an increase or decrease in taxes based on valuation and assessments. (York County Council will set tax rates annually, as do local municipalities and school boards for their areas. Budget years typically begin late summer or fall of each year).
How does this impact my city/town and school district taxes?
Assessment figures are furnished and used by cities and schools when establishing annual tax rates. Each city and school establishes their own rate based on their budgetary needs.
What’s one more thing people need to know?
The deadline for citizens to dispute or question valuations and assessments is Dec. 15, 2020. For more information, this detailed online reassessment guide from the county is available.
This story was originally published September 25, 2020 at 9:15 AM.
