For the Record

Today is the last day that LaPorte County Taxpayers can submit comments for DLGF consideration about the LaPorte County reassessment disaster.  Those comments can be submitted to Laportereassessment@dlgf.in.gov and I would encourage LaPorte County Citizens to exercise their most fundamental right to petition their government for redress of grievances if they have not already done so.  Those who would like to be a bit better informed about the LaPorte County Reassessment problem as well as some inherent flaws in Indiana’s “fair market” property tax assessment may want to spend a little time watching the DLGF hearing that was held in LaPorte County last Thursday (May 15th) http://www.alco.org/alcotv.html

My two cents worth for the public record that have been sent to DLGF Commissioner Musgrave -

Dear Ms. Musgrave,

Thank you for your ongoing efforts to straighten out the reassessment mess in LaPorte County. Although I was not able to attend the most recent DLGF hearing in LaPorte County to personally comment, I have watched the meeting on the ALCO-TV website.  I have appreciated the way the DLGF has conducted the hearings in LaPorte County as well as the materials that have been made available to the public on the DLGF website. I also greatly appreciate your recent oversight review of the contract that was executed between Nexus and LaPorte County.  As a fed-up LaPorte County Taxpayer who feels “waterboarded” by the LaPorte County Assessor, the County Attorney, and consultants retained by the LaPorte County Commissioners, I would strongly encourage the DLGF to order the total reassessment of LaPorte County.

Personally, I am a homeowner and small business owner in Noble Township.  At the previous DLGF Hearing, I submitted a copy of the property tax appeal that my attorney has filed with the LaPorte County Assessor for my home at 2702 W. 950 S. in Union Mills. Mann-Whitney/statistical analysis stuff aside, as a reasonable man, I believe that there is a 100% probability that sales chasing has taken place with my property tax reassessment.   The next-door residential property at 2652 W 950 S. in Union Mills which was not sold until 7/7/06 had the 2006 AV adjusted to $67,700 from a 2005 AV of $56,400. That represents an increase of 20.0%.  However my similar residential property located at 2702 W.  950 S. which was purchased  on 10/20/05 had the 2006 AV adjusted to $149,200 from the 2005 AV of $78,600.  That is an increase of 89.8%.  While I am assessed at 93.8% of the sale price, the property next-door is assessed at only 42.3% of the sale price that occurred just 6 months later. That certainly does not meet any reasonable standard of uniform and equal.

According to the “Tab E” material available at http://www.in.gov/dlgf/2577.htm “Sales Chasing -Unless similar unsold parcels are reappraised at the same level as sold parcels, sales chasing causes inequitable treatment of taxpayers by shifting the burden to taxpayers who have recently purchased property”

In the cases of many LaPorte County Taxpayers who are victims of sales chasing, absolutely no relief from that inequitable treatment will be available from the PTBOA appeals process. Only a correct reassessment of ALL improperly valued other property can remedy that unequal tax burden.  With the obvious problems in the reassessment process in LaPorte County, I believe the only way for property taxpayers to have the uniform and equal assessment required by Indiana’s Constitution is for the DLGF to order the total reassessment of LaPorte County.  In order to restore some degree of public faith in the property tax assessment process for LaPorte County, I would respectfully urge you to order that action without any further delay.

Thank you for your consideration of my opinion.

Greg Kelver
2702 W. 950 S.
Union Mills, IN  46382
(219) 324-4229

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