A new White County appraisal plan submitted to County Commissioners for approval, aiming to balance property values and tax rates.
White County Property Assessor Junior Jones said the new plan combines the most recent year’s sales with the current year to determine reappraisal values. Jones said values have increased significantly. Jones said this is because of the migration of people to the community.
“It does bring the equity up in our existing homes here because they’re coming here and paying considerably more for the properties in white county,” Jones said. “And other counties in this state, due to the demand for housing and land development in this area. I think in the long run it is a good thing for White County citizens.”
Jones said property values for current residents are up by sixty percent. He also said the 2020 appraisal for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house in White County was $132,500, while the average base house is now $248,500.
Jones said that, if passed, the county plan must maintain a revenue-neutral process.
“If the trustee and the city recorder takes down a certain amount of money in 2024 for property taxes, after reappraisal they have to, I have to make sure they take in that same amount of money in 2025,” Jones said.
Jones said since the county’s prices have increased, the tax must be adjusted accordingly. Jones said with the sixty percent increase in property values, the tax rate needs to decrease by the same percentage to ensure the trustee and recorder collect the same amount of money despite the higher home values.
“That brand new tax rate, which will be lower, will be submitted to the fourteen commissioners that is our legislative body here in White County,” Jones said. “And they have to determine that amount of money will be enough to balance the budget here.”
Jones said the County Commissioners have until the third Monday night of June to decide whether to accept the new tax rate. He said if it is not accepted, a public meeting would need to be called to discuss further changes. Jones said his job is to lower the tax rates based on property value and as a citizen, these decisions affect him as well
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