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Articles
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WARNING UPPER SHORE RESIDENTS - Check your home assessment
for accuracy
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July 29, 2008
I, along with Delegate Michael Smigiel urge residents of the Upper Shore’s 36th Legislative District to check your home assessment for accuracy.
Home assessments made during the months of soaring home values are excessive in today’s market of sharply falling home values. Property taxes, based on inflated home assessments, means homeowners are paying an excessive and unfair amount of property taxes.
According to the U. S. Department of Commerce, this year has seen the largest drop in annual home prices since 1970.
Homeowners, assessed before the real estate bubble burst should appeal their property tax bill. A homeowner should request an appeal only if he or she believes the home value is inflated. If not, an appeal for review could result in an increase if the value of your home has increased.
It is your right as a homeowner to find out if your home’s assessed value is accurate through appeal. Indicators that your assessment is too high include the following:
• Your assessed home value is higher than the sales price of comparable homes in your neighborhood.
• There are many homes like your home for sale in your neighborhood.
• There have been foreclosed homes in your neighborhood.
• Our home was assessed in 2006 or 2007 during the real estate boom market.
The State of Maryland provides a petition to appeal your home’s assessed value. You must file the petition before January 1 to be considered for the next taxable year, which begins July 1.
The petition is available online at http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/petitnry.pdf
You can also call your local Maryland Assessment Office. You may also request a petition from me, your State Senator E. J. Pipkin or Delegate Michael Smigiel. E-mail me at
e.j.pipkin@senate.state.md.us
or e-mail Delegate Smigiel at michael.smigiel@house.state.md.us. Complete the petition and sent it to your local County’s Supervisor of Assessments.
For Caroline County residents, mail to:
Dana Jarrell, Supervisor of Assessments
207 S. Third Street
Denton, Maryland 21629
Phone – 410-819-4450
For Cecil County residents, mail to:
Dale K. DeWeese, Supervisor of Assessments
Multi-Service Center
170 East Main Street
Elkton, Maryland 21921
Phone – 410-996-2760
For Kent County residents, mail to:
Amy Smith, Supervisor of Assessments
400 High Street
Third Floor
Chestertown, Maryland 21620
Phone – 420-778-7447
For Queen Anne’s County residents:
Margaret Ness, Acting Supervisor of Assessments
120 Broadway
Suite 7
Centreville, Maryland 21617
Phone – 410-819-4160
You may be taxed unfairly. Take action now to determine if your home’s assessed value is wrong. Appeal your property tax assessment today.
Sincerely,
Senator E. J. Pipkin Delegate Michael Smigiel
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