Assessments up? Assessor out!

In the property tax article written by Mike Zawislak it states that "The assessments themselves have definitely gone down." I would like to know where? I know that for the last five years either my land value or building value or both have gone up every year. I expect the value to continue going up as long as Gary Raupp is in office because he does not care about the people in Vernon Township. He has been in office too long and just doesn't listen to people and he allows the people who work in his office to run the office any way they want as long as Gary gets his paycheck.

Vernon Township assessor Gary Raupp has increased my assessment for last year and every year that I have lived in my house on Horatio Boulevard. Currently he has my house assessed for about $200,000 more than what I can sell it for. And don't try and appeal it if you live in Vernon Township. I tried and I used comparables that came off the computer system for Vernon Township. I was told at the hearing that the comparables I used were not accurate because their system was not working properly. They said I could not use them. I left the hearing. It was a waste of time. They had discussed my appeal before I entered the room and their minds were made up before I entered the room. The only way you will be able to get reform and lower your assessed value in Vernon Township is to vote the people currently in office out of office.

Last election was the closest it has ever been to get the people currently in office out. Hopefully next election it will work. There should be a limit of no more than two terms in any public office. Hopefully, this way the elected officials will not become lazy in the office they hold.

John Billis

Prairie View