Tea anyone?

Pioneer Press Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:36:54 -0700
Forest Lake / Owners question appraisals

If the beauty of land is in the eye of the beholder, some Forest Lake property owners are demanding, well, another beholder. They're pressuring Forest Lake to drop its contract with Washington County, whose assessors, they say, have been way off on the values they've put on their properties - and have been gruff and unprofessional to boot. The discrepancies are costing them hundreds or thousands of dollars in extra taxes, they say. So they would prefer the city instead hire a local assessor with a better feel for the area. "We feel we have lost local control over the process," said property owner Alan Bakke, who suggested the city renew the county contract for only a year while it accepts bids from other assessors. The Forest Lake City Council is expected to make a decision on the matter during a special session today. Washington County official Kevin Corbid, who oversees assessment services, is scratching his head over the accusations. His department has received numerous good reviews from city residents in the past 2½ years, he said. Much of the problem, he said, is residents are misinterpreting property documents and don't realize today's values are based on assessments made during boom times 14 to 24 months ago. ... Corbid said he is open to reviewing cases, but it's too late for this tax season. Property owners should challenge their assessments when they get them early in the year - not during the late-fall tax time. Right now, all they can do is take the county to tax court.

[[keywords: LandUse;PropertyTax;Metro;]]