Miles
The 2010 change of value notices mailed Friday to Douglas County property owners contain an error, county appraiser Steve Miles said.
This year’s and last year’s values are flip-flopped. The commercial and residential real estate notices incorrectly listed the 2009 value under 2010 and vice versa.
“At this point we haven’t determined the cause or anything,” Miles said. “We want the public to know about it, to be aware of it.”
Miles said his office discovered the error Monday morning and that property owners can bring their notice in to the office in the basement of the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Mass., if they would like a new copy.
Beyond that, Miles said his office is still trying to determine the best course of action.
Property owners wanting to appeal their values have until 5 p.m. March 30 to request an informal hearing with the appraiser’s office.
Comments
LJWorld.com doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.
punkrockmom (Nikki May) says…
So my value went up? Really?? I doubt it.
rtpayton (anonymous) says…
The county appraiser still trying to determine best course of action on mailed error? Interesting, maybe the appraiser can file an appeal with property owner. Beware property owners should be the headline, county appraiser wants to take you to the cleaners again.
beaujackson (anonymous) says…
Our government at work - screwed-up, as usual..
Starlight (anonymous) says…
Kind of a moot point here since they're exactly the same value. I doubt I could sell it for this amount though.
shotgun (anonymous) says…
Does it really make a difference? The appraisals are a joke anyway!
merrill (anonymous) says…
Could it be that the bills of the city,county and USD 497 are demanding inflated property values
as a means to meet demand?
Why build any new infrastructure if WE cannot afford what we have?
Property values around the country are dropping and is assumed will decline further.
Lynn731 (anonymous) says…
They mailed us the incorrect copy. They should mail us the correct copy, not expect us to make a trip downtown to get a correct copy. We should not have to waste our gas and time, when they screwed up. Thank you, Lynn
oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…
Why were not a couple printed out to confirm their correctness. My father when involved with Many different groups always mailed a letter to himself to get an idea of how long the mail took.
Look, Mr. Miles was a former employee , now in charge.
This is inexcusable. The county needs to remail the notices., with a heading explainining why.
So, it may cost a bit more? Well, cut some spending within the department to make up the difference.
All of those employees and no one proofreads or double checks the valuation notices.
How many more errors go on within the appraiser's office.
shout - error
avoice (anonymous) says…
Maybe they're hoping people don't read it very closely so they won't have as many appeals to worry about. Poor suckers won't know what hit us until it's too late, when the actual bills come out in the fall.
LadyJ (anonymous) says…
I double checked online just in case they were mistaken about the mistake.
ashmole (anonymous) says…
They should send out corrected statements. What a screw up!
greenworld (anonymous) says…
Think a machine or person made this error. I would fire both.
Renaissance (anonymous) says…
"at this point we haven't determined the cause".......really? Your department is that unorganized that you can't track down who was in charge of this process? If there are so many employees that you can't identify the source of the mistake, perhaps it's time to start consolidating and becoming more efficient so that you can identify the source of all your tasks. Sounds to me like you gave someone some responsibility that perhaps you ought to take back now. In the modified words of Mark Twain: "Imagine you are an idiot. Now imagine you work at city hall; but I repeat myself."
greenworld (anonymous) says…
City Workers.....19 stand around and watch one work. Lord be it before someone gets fired or anything like that. Im sure someone important made this error. Probably an upper management type person that it would take years to replace. HA yeah right.
thebcman (anonymous) says…
I blame George Bush.
George_Braziller (anonymous) says…
The only option they have is to send correct notices. This is a bit like sending an incorrect W-2. It's easier to fix it now than trying to straighten it out in the future.
Blue_Dragon (anonymous) says…
The only logical thing to do is to fix the error and mail the notices back out. Anyone who doesn't watch the news, read the paper, or pay attention on line isn't going to know there is a problem so they would have no idea what is going on with their values. The county made the error so the county needs to fix the error instead of forcing the injured party (citizens) to travel to deal with the error themselves.
somebodynew (anonymous) says…
@thebcman - I can't believe barrypenders isn't on here blaming Obama.
Metalq22 (anonymous) says…
Where is YOUR Obama now?
lawrenceguy40 (anonymous) says…
And the liberals want government running our health care.
"Sorry, Mr. Johnson, President barry o's death panel sent a memo saying no more care for those over 17 years old. It should have read 71. Your daughter's dead!"
AS (anonymous) says…
They didn't make a mistake when they took my money tis year for my home taxes.
thefisherman (anonymous) says…
Strange how my home has miraculously returned to it's pre-recession value. Every dollar I lost in value from 2008 to 2009 has been returned for 2010! If only the government had known all along that all they had to do was press a button in their computer and property values would be fixed, much of the recession could have been avoided!
The day the county will write me a check for the ridiculous number written on that piece of paper is the day my home is actually worth that much. Yeah, right.
Book value = the value somebody will whip out their check book for. Not the value some guy at the county comes up with to help cover budget shortfalls.
srj (anonymous) says…
I like how people are saying they wish they could sell their house at the appraised value when people did get over the value in the late 90's-early 2000's (and the reason why values are falling now).
headdoctor (anonymous) says…
So they screwed up. It is not rocket science. Flip the numbers. Expecting the county spend money they don't have for a reprinting and mailing is silly. In the scheme of things it isn't going to make any real difference.
pdecell (Paul Decelles) says…
Well the numbers are cooked anyway I suspect. I really don't believe my appraisal has essentially stayed the same given the soft RE market in Lawrence.
budwhysir (anonymous) says…
to correct this would cost much more than the difference in tax. I say adjust our property tax on our cars and everything should confuse just fine
conservative (anonymous) says…
Yes it is money we shouldn't have to spend twice, but the only real answer is to reprint correctly and remail. As was pointed out earlier in the discussion if you don't see this article you won't know the appraisal is incorrect and won't think about appealing if the valuation went up. @beobachter you are an idiot. You are correct that it is not a bill in and of itself and isn't used to file your taxes this year, however the numbers involved directly affect the taxes you will be paying at the end of this year.
justfornow (anonymous) says…
greenworld (anonymous) says...
City Workers.....19 stand around and watch one work. ..... you're so full of $hit!! Getting old listening to inglorious fools bagging on City workers.
gccs14r (anonymous) says…
I figured the 2009 value was a misprint and the valuation stayed flat. Now I'm finding out that they lopped off another 5,000 on top of the 3,000 they lopped off last year.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
"The commercial and residential real estate notices incorrectly listed the 2009 value under 2010 and vice versa. At this point we haven’t determined the cause or anything, Miles said."
Does the phrase "Close enough for government work" ring a bell? If you believe either the 2009 or 2010 valuations are close to the fair market value of your property then you also probably believe the person(s) responsible will be reprimanded or fired for being incompetent. More likely they will hire two more employees to check the work of the three employees responsible for sending out notices once a year. I always chuckle when government employees claim they can make more money in the private sector. To quote Dr Ray Stantz, "You don't know what it's like out there! I've *worked* in the private sector. They expect *results*. "
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
beobachter (anonymous) says... "So they made an error. What does it mean? You don't use it to file taxes or anything else."
79-1460. Notification of taxpayer of change in classification or appraised valuation of property, contents; duties of appraiser regarding valuation increase of real property; amendment of appraisal rolls by county appraiser; guide to the property tax appeals process.
(a) The county appraiser shall notify each taxpayer in the county annually on or before March 1 for real property and May 1 for personal property, by mail directed to the taxpayer's last known address, of the classification and appraised valuation of the taxpayer's property,
http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-s...
I think it goes without saying that any notice be accurate and here the County knows the notice was not accurate.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
19-431. Same; suspension or termination of officer; hearing; determination and order by director of property valuation or state court of tax appeals; removal of officer and filling of vacancy.
(a) Whenever it shall be made to appear to the board of county commissioners of any county or the district board of an appraisal district by evidence satisfactory to such board that the appraiser of such county or district has failed or neglected to properly perform the duties of office, by reasons of incompetency or for any other cause, the board shall enter upon its journal an order suspending or terminating the county or district appraiser from office
http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-s...
tir (anonymous) says…
Rats. Mine went up, after remaining the same for the past 2 years! And in this dreadful economy, too! Maybe all of those $8000 credits for new home buyers triggered a mini real estate boom in properties at the lower end of the value range. Either that or the recent "hostile takeover" of the ONA caused property values in that neighborhood to spike. Either way, I'm screwed.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
Retailers are under legal obligation to accurately calculate sales taxes and then collect those taxes. Failure to do so subjects them to criminal and/or civil penalty. Anyone who has income is obligated to accurately report the amount of their income and calculate their taxes based upon tens of thousands of pages of complex code before they pay both the Feds and the State the amounts due. Failure to accurately report or timely pay subjects them to criminal and/or civil penalty's.
Are we now to believe that the County Appraiser, despite the statutes, is under no legal obligation to send out accurate written valuations which are supposed to be used to calculate our real estate taxes? The County Appraiser will suffer no consequences for failure to give us accurate notice of those valuations which we have a statutory right to appeal? Seriously? If so, I want that job!
beawolf (anonymous) says…
Are we that lazy, that stupid, that ignorant, that we can't we can't make a correction on the notice ourselves? Unreal. For those who are too lazy to do even that, I'm sure a call will get you a corrected copy mailed to you. God forbid you may actually have to stop at the Courthouse the next time you drive down Mass St.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
beawolf (anonymous) says... "Are we that lazy, that stupid, that ignorant, that we can't we can't make a correction on the notice ourselves?"
How are people to know of the mistake if they don't read the LJWorld, which fewer and fewer are doing. The statute doesn't require a "written notice or a short 150 word article in the local rag/"
grammaddy (anonymous) says…
Good old Douglas County! Our tax dollars at work.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
beawolf (anonymous) says..."Are we that lazy, that stupid, that ignorant, that we can't we can't make a correction on the notice ourselves?"
One thing is for sure, the County Appraiser is so stupid, lazy and ignorant that they waste our tax dollars calculating, printing, and mailing inaccurate notices of valuation as required by state statute. but apparently have no problem placing additional burdens on each and every property owner to get their accurate valuation.
ilikebutter (anonymous) says…
.....ripping on government is fun, isn't it? I love how the first thing people say is "fire them" or "incompetent," "lazy," we need to get a more "efficient" government."
The best part? Douglas County and the City of Lawrence, are actually professionally run, competent, efficient forms of local government. Believe it or not (probably not).
Please everyone, after Rush reads you the talking points for the day, don't just repeat them without thought....think before you type.
beawolf (anonymous) says…
beawolf (anonymous) says... "Are we that lazy, that stupid, that ignorant, that we can't we can't make a correction on the notice ourselves?"
Sigmund (anonymous) says...
How are people to know of the mistake if they don't read the LJWorld, which fewer and fewer are doing. The statute doesn't require a "written notice or a short 150 word article in the local rag/"..
Good point on " for those who don't read the LJW". I was addressing those who HAVE read the LJW and are aware of the mistake. I'm sure a corrected version will have to be mailed out.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
ilikebutter (anonymous) says... "Douglas County and the City of Lawrence, are actually professionally run, competent, efficient forms of local government. Believe it or not (probably not)."
Really? In my profession I am expected to follow the rules, obey statutes and am held accountable for my performance. I guess I'll believe the County Commission has the same level of competence and professionalism as the taxpayers who pay their salaries when they actually professionally do their jobs and are held accountable.
"Whenever it shall be made to appear to the board of county commissioners of any county or the district board of an appraisal district by evidence satisfactory to such board that the appraiser of such county or district has failed or neglected to properly perform the duties of office, by reasons of incompetency or for any other cause, the board shall enter upon its journal an order suspending or terminating the county or district appraiser from office"
http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-s...
When that happens I'll change my opinion but until then I will believe that no matter how incompetent no one in government ever loses their jobs or suffers any consequences for failure in their duties in Douglas County or the City of Lawrence. I will not be holding my breath.
ilikebutter (anonymous) says…
Sigmund, you don't need to continually repost your same comments. This mailing does not show incompetence, nor does it show a neglection of duty. It shows a mistake, which was caught by the office, prior to one single citizen complaint. People, even in government, do not get fired for simple mistakes.
Sigmund, I am sure you have done your job, your entire life error-free. Wouldn't it be fun though, if just for kicks, for every mistake made you were howled at as incompetent?
You don't need to respond to this as I can tell by your (29) posts on this article, you are competent, error free, and have an excellent understanding of kansas statute.
SpunKey (anonymous) says…
How about a post card (cheaper mailing and printing expenses)... that explains the correction? That is how they fix this when counties in Florida make this type of mistake.
Liberty275 (anonymous) says…
"Beyond that, Miles said his office is still trying to determine the best course of action."
Fire whoever is responsible. That would be a good start.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
ilikebutter (anonymous) says... "Sigmund, I am sure you have done your job, your entire life error-free."
Thanks for the vote of confidence but I have screwed up and when I do there are consequences in the private sector. I expect, for instance, that if I should violate the statute and pay my taxes late or file my appeal a day late the county would hold me and all of us who merely pay the taxes to the strictest letter of the law and impose a fine or deny the appeal.
I don't think it is it too much to ask that the County Appraiser and County Commissioners actually follow the law. I provided just the relevant part of the appropriate statute but if you had taken the time to read the statute, termination is not the only option. I have provided links so that you could read and educate yourself, if you wish. While it may not be your job it is the job of the County Commissioners.
79-1460. Notification of taxpayer of change in classification or appraised valuation of property, contents; duties of appraiser regarding valuation increase of real property; amendment of appraisal rolls by county appraiser; guide to the property tax appeals process.
(a) The county appraiser shall notify each taxpayer in the county annually on or before March 1 for real property and May 1 for personal property, by mail directed to the taxpayer's last known address, of the classification and appraised valuation of the taxpayer's property,
http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-s...
19-431. Same; suspension or termination of officer; hearing; determination and order by director of property valuation or state court of tax appeals; removal of officer and filling of vacancy.
(a) Whenever it shall be made to appear to the board of county commissioners of any county or the district board of an appraisal district by evidence satisfactory to such board that the appraiser of such county or district has failed or neglected to properly perform the duties of office, by reasons of incompetency or for any other cause, the board shall enter upon its journal an order suspending or terminating the county or district appraiser from office
http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-s...
If they expect me to follow the statutes why is it I have no right to expect they follow the statute? This failure of accurate notice denies every property owner in Douglas County their rights to due process in the assessment of their real property taxes. It is no small matter, if it were we could just eliminate the requirement completely and get rid of a couple of redundant County employees.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
At the barest minimum the County has a obligation to investigate the cause of the thousands of errors, take steps including termination to keep it from happening again., and explain to the public how it happened. They might want to expand that investigation to insure other less visible operations are executed properly, efficiently, and accurately.
ilikebutter (anonymous) says…
Sigmund you put a period and a comma after "again" in the above post. This shows absolute incompetence. You are now banned from posting on the LJ World web page. Sorry, but someone has to pay for this travesty and it is you.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
ilikebutter (anonymous) says... "Sigmund you put a period and a comma after "again" in the above post. This shows absolute incompetence. You are now banned from posting on the LJ World web page. Sorry, but someone has to pay for this travesty and it is you."
Thank goodness I don't get paid by anyone to post here and the only person impacted was you and not every single property owner in Douglas County. Still I was so concerned that I looked for a statutory violation, but all I could come up with was:
79-1460. Notification of taxpayer of change in classification or appraised valuation of property, contents; duties of appraiser regarding valuation increase of real property; amendment of appraisal rolls by county appraiser; guide to the property tax appeals process.
(a) The county appraiser shall notify each taxpayer in the county annually on or before March 1 for real property and May 1 for personal property, by mail directed to the taxpayer's last known address, of the classification and appraised valuation of the taxpayer's property,
http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-s...
19-431. Same; suspension or termination of officer; hearing; determination and order by director of property valuation or state court of tax appeals; removal of officer and filling of vacancy.
(a) Whenever it shall be made to appear to the board of county commissioners of any county or the district board of an appraisal district by evidence satisfactory to such board that the appraiser of such county or district has failed or neglected to properly perform the duties of office, by reasons of incompetency or for any other cause, the board shall enter upon its journal an order suspending or terminating the county or district appraiser from office
http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-s...
Even though a simple punctuation error is all you could find and no error in logic or law, please write Jonathan Kealing and tell him you would like my account to be "disappeared." I have been trying for months now and even though his life would be much easier without me and I even after I offered to make a donation to his favorite charity, he has steadfastly denied my simple request. Perhaps you could persuade him? You can reach him at jkealing@ljworld.com
raerae (anonymous) says…
Excuse me, someone, but could this have anything to do with my escrow account suddenly being underpaid and my mortgage company suddenly sending me notice this month for an additional $50+ a month for the "underpayment" of insurance?
Thanks.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
raerae (anonymous) says... "Excuse me, someone, but could this have anything to do with my escrow account suddenly being underpaid and my mortgage company suddenly sending me notice this month for an additional $50+ a month for the "underpayment" of insurance?"
Possibly, but unlikely. Sounds like your insurance premium got raised but not necessarily because your valuation was raised. You should call your escrow agent in the morning.
raerae (anonymous) says…
Thank you Sigmund, we'll do just that.