Budgets don’t influence assessor

The township assessor is charged with valuing property fairly and equitably ... PERIOD.

Assessing property is complicated, but in the simplest terms, assessments are largely affected by two things: the market (the market goes up and assessments go up, the market goes down, and assessments go down) and uniformity (comparable properties have similar values.)

The assessor works for the township property owner/taxpayer. The budgets and levies of the various taxing bodies do not influence property values and are not considered in valuing properties.

Every taxing body creates its own budget and levy. The assessed value of property does not determine the funds collected by the taxing bodies. Instead, the tax rate is determined based on what the taxing bodies need to collect to fulfill their budgets and levies.

You, the taxpayer, have every right to provide input/influence on the budgets and levies of any taxing body. Every taxing body has either a board or council that controls the budgets and levies of that entity. They hold regular, open meetings. The best way to understand how your property tax dollars are used and have input and influence on your taxes is to attend those meetings.

The Geneva Township Assessor is committed to making fair and equitable property assessments based on market data and uniformity. If you have any concerns about the fairness of your property value, contact my office and we will be glad to discuss your concerns. If your property is unfairly assessed when compared to similar properties, we will adjust it accordingly. You can easily access the assessments in your neighborhood online at www.genevatownship.com.

It is a myth that you can only question your assessor at certain times of the year. The assessor’s office is your public office. You are welcome to call or visit during any typical business day. My staff and I are here to assist you, the taxpayer.

Denise D. Lacure

Geneva Township Assessor