Many Upshur County property owners have reported that their appraisals, on which taxes are based, have increased dramatically this year.

Some have told The Mirror of hikes of 50 to 100 percent in appraised value on their houses and land.

Upshur County Chief Appraiser Sarah Curtis said that the increases are fair and accurate. She said the appraisals are based on sales of comparable properties.

Mrs. Curtis said the state reviews local appraisals “with a fine-toothed comb,” and since she arrived, they have been in line with state standards.

“We are required to be within 95 to 105 percent of the values set by the state (for comparable properties),” she said.

In 2005, the year she began as chief appraiser in Upshur County, the comparison was 93 percent.

“For 2006, it was 96 percent; for 2007 and 2009, it was 100 percent; and for 2008, it was 101 percent,” she said.

A petition protesting the appraised values is circulating in the Ore City area by a group calling itself Upshur County Citizens for Fairness.

The petition states that “We the undersigned wish it to be known that it is our belief that the Upshur County Appraisal District is overvaluing property and they are doing it knowingly and/or negligently.

“We believe this behavior constitutes OFFICIAL ABUSE OF THEIR OFFICE AND OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT (emphasis in origin). We request that the correct officials conduct an investigation and if it is determined that charges are warranted that they be brought.”

Mrs. Curtis said that “I have no idea how they could come up with this claim.”

The petition was originated by Jay Davis of Ore City, who said he has successfully protested his appraisals in years past and got the appraisal lowered on property where he lives and other property which he manages for his wife.

He said in his neighborhood, appraisals were up about 30 percent “across the board.”

Davis said that one of his neighbors, a single woman living on a fixed income, saw her home appraisal go from $53,000 to $71,000 in one year.

“She has no idea what to do. She lives in a modest two-bedroom, one-bath house, and the increase in taxes “threatens her livelihood.”

Davis said that last year and this year, when he protested his appraisal and presented comparable values to a deputy appraiser, he was told “you are right. We will lower your appraisal, but we have to wait until the last minute to do it, or others would want their appraisals lowered, too.”

He said he was told that they would either have to lower his neighbors’ appraisals or raise his.

Mrs. Curtis said 15 percent of the appraisal protests this year are from Ore City.

She said appaisal notices were mailed to real property owners on April 30, and because May 31 is the Memorial Day holiday, they have until Tuesday, June 1, to file their protests.

“And they can call us anytime,” she said.

A “Viewpoints” column on Page 4A of the May 12 edition gave tips on filing a protest. For those who may have missed it, it is reprinted below:

Property owners who believe their county appraisal district has overestimated the value of their homes or businesses have a right to appeal to their local Appraisal Review Board (ARB) to reduce their property values.

Two video presentations on Texas Comptroller Susan Combs’ website inform homeowners and small business owners about protest procedures, what to expect during an ARB hearing and how to make an effective presentation to the ARB.

“For a successful appeal, a property owner must be prepared to present well-organized, clear and convincing evidence to persuade the ARB that a particular home or business has a lower value than the value placed by the Appraisal District,” Mrs. Combs said. “Our videos also explain how property owners can protect their right to appeal in court if they disagree with the ARB’s decision.”

The Comptroller’s video, How to Present Your Case at an Appraisal Review Board Hearing, A Guide for Homeowners, can be found online at http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/homeprotestvid/player.html. How to Present Your Case at an Appraisal Review Board Hearing, A Guide for Small Business Owners is located at http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/businessprotestvid/player.html. The Comptroller’s property tax Web page at http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/ also includes much more information about local property taxes.

Most ARBs schedule property value protest hearings in May, June or July, except in certain major urban areas, where hearings occur year round.