Dear Source:
I just got my tax revaluation letter and like many others, I'm sure, was flabbergasted. For those who don't know what this word means, "overwhelmed with astonishment".
I had called the property valuation office a while ago, because of mistakes they made in my revaluation, such as, being evaluated as a concrete house, when mine is wood. They even said I had a concrete roof, which I don't; it's wood. So, they came looked at it, said they'd go back a make corrections and, bang. They revised it upwards by $10,000, still maintaining I have a concrete house with concrete roof.
What also bothers me is this, they say if I'm not satisfied with the revised preliminary value, I can appeal after my 2006 tax bill has been issued. That means I'll have to pay first, then appeal, because that's the way they have it set up. Doesn't matter if all of it is wrong, doesn't matter that they haven't got a clue as to how to do this thing, doesn't matter if they evaluated wrong, I have to pay first.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but as of this writing, I'm going to make sure they re-evaluate my property fairly before I give them a dime! And, my tax bill has doubled!!
George Hollander
St. John
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