TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Fighting The Good Fight On Unfair Tax Hikes

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 27, 2007

By now, you have either accepted your property tax bill or, if you are like me, have filed for a hearing with the Value Adjustment Board and will be awaiting their answer by March or April of 2008.

I own a small rental home which was shared by my mother and brother before her death in 2003, so I come by rental property quite by accident. There is no exemption on rental property and a 720-square-foot house can command some $4,000-plus in property tax.

Last year I had filed and was successful to the point of having the value reduced a little over 9 percent. I was elated. Citizen participation works!

What a surprise to see the current raise of 17 percent. I filed again. I wanted to know why surrounding properties saw much smaller raises.

Here is how a hearing works. You go to the County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 12th floor, Value Adjustment Board and fill out a two-page form detailing why you feel the tax is excessive. Then you pay an $18 fee and wait for an answer.

In my case they sent me seven pages of "comps," none of which, in my opinion, came close to said property built in south Tampa in 1953. I pressed on.

Next I received a letter advising me they would adjust the value of the property down by $246. I pressed on. The next step required was to present my case, in duplicate, by mail, before the hearing with this caution: "There is a legal presumption that the Property Appraiser's determination is correct. You have the burden to overcome such presumption with evidence." Then I was offered a telephone number in case I wanted to "WITHDRAW the petition(s)." Yes they do put WITHDRAW in all caps. You can't miss it. And guess what: I pressed on.

They received a letter from me (in duplicate as required) showing their determination from last year; the check stub from my refund of $283 (it had been worth my time); a copy of The Tampa Tribune's article on Sept. 2, "Our Opinion," "Tax Tide Finally Stops Rising For Florida's Homeowners"; and a copy of the Sunset Park Homeowner's Association newsletter on property tax suggesting that the appraisal manager "uses a market analysis method versus a cost method." (That means it's not what you paid for your property but rather what someone else would pay that determines your assessment.) Also enclosed was research on nine surrounding properties, which showed much smaller raises. I then appeared before the hearing magistrate on Sept. 17. The hearing lasted about 20 minutes.

Information I came away with: Just because the hearing magistrate agreed with me to some extent in 2006 does not mean the property appraiser accepts it. Going forward, they keep their original amount and base your raise in taxes on their figure. Bottom line, my tax break lasted only one year.

The magistrate apparently thought I had something of a case due to the fact that the property is located near three schools, experiences large traffic volume and adjoins commercial property which keep Dumpsters and storage sheds near the lot line. She gave me directions on getting another appraisal for tax purposes only.

I will be requesting the recording of the hearing ($2 fee) so I can closely listen to discern exactly what I should attempt in 2008.

What was mentioned often in the 2006 and 2007 hearings was the property is not fulfilling its "best use." Who decides and how is it decided what the "best use" is of any property?

I press on! Wish me luck.

Doris Guenther is retired and a longtime resident of Tampa.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT