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Property Taxes - ver. 2008
By Hunter Davis

 

February 10, 2008
Sunday PM


Last year, about this time frame, I received a property tax assessment that raised my property taxes 57%. I appealed, obviously made a mistake by letting an assessor actually see my house, and got my assessment, based on an actual inspection, lowered. So that the assessment was only about a 45% increase.

Yesterday I found another tax assessment. Okay, that is to be expected, they do need to be paid every year.

But wait!!!! This assessment, only one year into what the assessors office reported to be a three year cycle (Ktn Daily News) is for a higher assessment than was corrected last year.

What the heck (edited for gentle readers) is going on? My house assessment has gone up another 25%. BASED ON WHAT THIS TIME?!

Three year cycle of assessments. If that is the case then I do not expect to have to be reassessed until, let's see...last year plus two is 2009, now add three for this current received assessment, that takes me to 2012 before I expect to receive a new assessment.

I agree with Mr McQueen, maybe the KGB should be examining its manning rosters and such-like.

This raise, on my assessment, two years in a row, smacks of excessive power, and a disregard for public input at the Assessors Office and by extension, a failure of oversight and due process by the Borough Assembly.
I have to balance my budget with being unable to TAKE money, legally, from anyone else. So why do we let the Borough manage our communal budget by taking more and more?

Hunter Davis
Ketchikan, AK

About: "Seriously reconsidering being a homeowner in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough."

Received February 07, 2008 - Published February 10, 2008

 

Related Viewpoint:

letter KGB Property Taxes By Dan McQueen

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