Porter County’s assessed value is going up and, for most people, that’s reflected in the notices they are receiving from the Porter County Assessor’s office.
The county’s assessed valuation for real property went up 3 percent, from $13.29 billion in 2014 to $13.68 billion this year, said Auditor Vicki Urbanik.
“An increase in your assessed valuation does not necessarily mean an increase in your taxes,” she said, adding many other factors come into play, including whether tax rates themselves go up. Assessed values also don’t take into account deductions taxpayers may have on their properties, which also can lower their tax rates.
How much someone pays in taxes is based on the assessed value of their property, she said. Because assessed valuations are now more in line with a property’s marker value, an increased assessed valuation means property values are going up.
“That’s a good thing for taxpayers,” she said.
From the county’s standpoint, a higher assessed valuation overall can help keep taxes low, or at least from going up as much as they would otherwise, she said.
Assessment notices went out in the mail July 17 and Monday was the first day people could file appeals at the assessor’s office, said Assessor Jon Snyder. He said the requests for appeals were not overwhelming on the first day.
“If a taxpayer feels we have assessed them incorrectly, if (their property) is assessed for something they couldn’t sell it for, they can appeal it,” Snyder said.
With around 80,000 property parcels in the county, Snyder said between 2,500 and 4,000 property owners file appeals each year.
“That’s a pretty low percentage. I don’t know what it will be this year,” he said.
Anyone who wants more information about appealing their assessed valuation can go to the Assessor’s office in Suite 211 of the county administration building, 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso, or go to www.portercountyassessor.com.
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
