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The state on Reynolds bucking the state
The Ohio Department of Taxation is still mustering a response to Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds’ claim that he is doing his own property tax reappraisal next year because the state has him handcuffed this year. See the post below for more.
But I do have what appears to be the only correspondence between Reynolds and the state on the issue, Dated Sept. 29. Reynolds said he was verbally told “no.” Here is the text of the letter:
September 29, 2008
Richard Levin, Tax Commissioner Ohio Department of Taxation
Mr. Levin,
As you are aware, counties across Ohio, including Butler, are facing a housing crisis unlike any in recent memory. Hopes of a timely housing market recovery continue to fade due to the upheaval within the banking industry. Fair it to say, our mandatory revaluation could not take place at a worse time.
As the County Auditor, I am faced with the daunting task of assessing a fair and equitable value on properties during a rapidly declining housing market. The instability in the housing market makes it impossible, at this time, to assess a fair and conservative value on residential properties.
Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 5713.01 states that “The commissioner may grant an extension of one year or less if the commissioner finds that good cause exists for the extension.” I trust that you agree such language in the ORC was meant for such an instance as we are experiencing with the current housing and banking crises.
I am asking that you exercise your authority per ORC 5713.01 and grant Butler County a one year extension to submit our revaluation. The extension will allow time for the markets to gain stability which is imperative in fairly assessing property values.
I greatly appreciate your consideration and look forward to working out an equitable solution for the citizens of Butler County.
Warmest Regards,
Roger Reynolds, CPA
cc: Shelly Wilson, Executive Administrator for Property Taxes
Here is how Butler County’s appraisal stacks up against other counties, as provided by the Department of Taxation:
Josh:
In response to one of your questions…
There are 28 counties scheduled for a triennial sales update and another 13 going through a complete six-year reappraisal this year.
As of Sept. 12 — which is the latest information available to me at this precise moment — the tax commissioner had approved tentative abstracts for 22 update and nine reappraisal counties. I’ve listed these counties below, along with the aggregate change expected in residential property value as a result of these update or reappraisal efforts.
The update counties:
- Auglaize 6.90 percent increase
- Darke 6.96 percent increase
- Defiance 3.46 percent increase
- Franklin 0.15 percent decrease
- Gallia 5.04 percent increase
- Geauga 0.56 percent increase
- Hamilton 0.88 percent increase
- Hardin 4.78 percent increase
- Henry 4.81 percent increase
- Jackson 4.74 percent increase
- Mahoning 0.09 percent increase
- Mercer 4.42 percent increase
- Morrow 1.22 percent increase
- Pickaway 1.29 percent increase
- Putnam 5.08 percent increase
- Preble 2.76 percent increase
- Richland 0.22 percent increase
- Seneca 5.58 percent increase
- Shelby 2.93 percent increase
- Trumbull 0.13 percent increase
- Van Wert 6.37 percent increase
- Wood 1.09 percent increase
The reappraisal counties:
- Ashland 6.67 percent increase
- Athens 11.51 percent increase
- Butler 5.95 percent increase
- Clermont 7.19 percent increase
- Fulton 1.04 percent increase
- Greene 7.78 percent increase
- Knox 10.03 percent increase
- Montgomery 0.24 percent increase
- Summit 0.95 percent decreas
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