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Pasco Property Tax Notices In The Mail

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By CARL ORTH The Suncoast News

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 20, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Perhaps a typical Pasco County resident might stifle a yawn and glance for a moment or two at a notice of proposed property taxes before stashing the document in some file folder.

But as Truth In Millage notices arrive in mailboxes this week, Property Appraiser Mike Wells is urging taxpayers to take a closer look because of the effect of Amendment 1 reforms.

To demystify the notice, Wells had his staff create an illustration of it and a step-by-step explanation of 12 items listed on the notice.

The explanation is posted on the appraiser's Web site. The link is appraiser.pasco gov.com/PDF/2008_Trim_ Insert.pdf.

By law, each taxpayer must get a copy of the notice to explain how the appraiser arrived at the market value on the home, which in turn determines the estimate on property taxes the resident will pay in the next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1. The document also lists the dates of public hearings.

This batch of notices will be the first to reflect the doubling of the homestead exemption to $50,000 for most homes, Wells points out.

Foreclosures could have an effect on the values of all homes in a neighborhood, Wells said.

The Save Our Homes cap on annual property tax increases now is portable when a resident moves within the state.

Businesses or other properties that don't qualify for a homestead exemption will not qualify for a 10 percent cap on the annual assessment, thanks to Amendment 1 reforms.

Wells emphasized the Sept. 15 deadline for people to file a petition to have the market value reviewed. Appeals go before the Value Adjustment Board.

For information, call the Property Appraiser's Office at (727) 847-8151, or go to appraiser.pascogov.com.

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