Division of Property Assessments Passes Bill to Allow Them to Intervene in Local Assessment Appeals
State Can Now Intervene in Local Taxpayer’s Appeal
The State Division of Property Assessments, aligned with the Tennessee Association of Assessing Officers, has just passed a bill to allow the State Division to intervene in local assessment appeals.
This means that if the State becomes interested in a local assessment appeal issue, it has the unconditional right to intervene and become a party in a taxpayer’s appeal with all the rights and powers of the assessor of property.
What’s wrong with this?
Well, for one thing the State does not collect or receive any of the property tax. The tax is strictly local.
And another, this non-elected State representative can approve or disapprove any settlement the Assessor, an elected official, wishes to make with the taxpayers.
And still another thing wrong?. The Division is a State agency opposing a taxpayer in a hearing to be decided by the State (State Board of Equalization). Both agencies come under the State Comptroller’s Office. We feel this close relationship to be a bit of a biased situation against the taxpayer.
And yet another thing wrong, this brings all the power of the State and their powerful resources (combined with those of the Assessor) to bear against the taxpayer. Not a fair fight.
The Division already makes all the assessments for 90 out of 95 counties in our State. This makes them a powerful organization wielding enormous influence over local taxation. In some areas, they even print the tax bills.
Now in the five (5) largest counties in the State (Shelby, Davidson, Rutherford, Knox, and Hamilton), in which the Division doesn’t make the appraisals or assessments, the Division can intervene and be a party there as well.
So watch out taxpayers. Don’t expect to deal with the person you voted for as Assessor of Property.
We now have a State Assessor’s Office where no-one is elected by Tennessee citizens.
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