photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

The Douglas County Commission was joined by representatives with the county's Americorps program Wednesday night, after proclaiming the week of March 13-19 Americorps Week.

The Douglas County Commission is asking homeowners throughout the county to bear with it in the coming months, as they’ve recently learned the taxable value of their homes has increased by 15% on average and could potentially lead to a jump in property taxes later in the year.

Commissioners discussed that issue — and got a general overview of the Douglas County Appraiser’s Office and its work — at the commission’s meeting on Wednesday. The Appraiser’s Office recently notified homeowners throughout the county of this year’s jump in the assessed taxable value of their homes, the largest increase the county’s seen in years.

Commissioner Patrick Kelly said he recognized that people might be worried about the jump, but he urged community members to remember that this was just the beginning of the process of determining what property taxes would look like later this year.

“I do understand that for community members, it’s a little alarming, the numbers they’re seeing, so I think that reaction is warranted,” Kelly said. “But we are just at the beginning of this process. That’s not the tax bill, it’s just the valuation, and hopefully people will hang in there with us as we start doing the work on the budget.”

County Appraiser Steven Miles told commissioners he’s been hearing as much from plenty of homeowners throughout the county since change of value notices arrived in the mail earlier this month.

Miles said homeowners have the option to appeal their valuations between now and June; the office is now gearing up for that process, he said, and he anticipates it being a “heavy season” this year.

County leaders otherwise used the discussion as an opportunity to explain how that plays into the county’s upcoming budget conversations. After the appeal process, when appraisal values are certified, County Administrator Sarah Plinsky said commissioners would consider the county’s mill levy with those values in mind.

In other business, the commission:

• Approved Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center’s request to move to its own employee health insurance and benefits program effective June 1.

Currently, Douglas County funds Bert Nash’s insurance plan. To ease the transition, the county has agreed to continue to provide some financial support. After the transition, the county will pay one-twelfth per month of the budgeted amount through the end of the current plan year.

• Granted its approval for reauthorizing Baldwin City’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program.

The program got started five years ago and was recently renewed for another five years. It’s intended to promote new construction and incentivize property owners to invest in and improve existing properties via a tax rebate program.

Baldwin City Mayor Casey Simoneau and City Administrator Glenn Rodden told commissioners the only change they made to the program with the renewal is how it defines its revitalization area. Instead of defining that area as just the city limits, it now includes any property annexed into the city during the next five years.

Simoneau told commissioners it has been apparent that the program has helped the community since it was first adopted. He said among other developments, it’s directly allowed the city to bring in affordable senior housing.

Commissioners agreed that it was a valuable program for Baldwin City and the county, and that the commission’s approval serves as a way to support the county’s outlying municipalities.