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Landowners in Montgomery County, Illinois are grappling with a dramatic spike in property taxes after having their payments reassessed.
Brandi Lentz instructed 5 On Your Aspect she paid $756 in property taxes final yr on a 96-acre tract of woodland in Montgomery County. Subsequent yr, she has affirmation that her property tax invoice will probably be greater than $10,000 — a stunning 1,222% enhance — and he or she’s not alone.
“Individuals are going to lose their property,” mentioned former Montgomery Co. Finance Chair Megan Beeler in her interview with 5 On Your Aspect. “While you’re a 1,500% enhance, a 3,000% enhance on property, we’re not going to have the power to take care of and pay the taxes.”
The rise in property taxes stems from a 2007 state legislation requiring woodland tracts to be taxed like properties, in line with Montgomery County Assessor Kendra Niehaus. Up till this yr, the legislation wasn’t accurately applied in Montgomery County. Because of this, woodland properties at the moment are taxed at 33.33% of their market worth.
Property homeowners can problem the evaluation by way of the Board of Evaluate, although a decision could also be tough as a result of lack of township assessors. The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners just lately held a particular session to handle these considerations.
What else can property homeowners do? They need to begin by reviewing their evaluation particulars for accuracy. They will additionally examine latest gross sales of comparable properties of their space to see if their valuation aligns with market tendencies. Gathering documentation to help a declare of overvaluation might help construct a case for an attraction.
As soon as an attraction is filed, homeowners could also be scheduled for a listening to to current their case. So, it is necessary to arrange a well-organized argument supported by proof and be conscious of deadlines. Having a strong emergency fund also can assist householders navigate giant tax payments with out risking shedding their properties.
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