Former Megan Barry for Council campaign manager Elizabeth Sullivan is now working for Metro Property Tax Assessments and she sent the following out to various neighborhoods groups, although both the contacts and the organized community meetings seem a bit less than comprehensive:
----Forwarded e-mail----
From: Sullivan, Elizabeth (Assessments) <Elizabeth.Sullivan@nashville.To: cleveland-park@googlegroups.
Sent: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 2:34 pm
Subject: [rwena] PROPERTY REAPPRAISAL: Important facts, public meeting schedule from Property Assessor George Rooker
Important Correspondence from Property Assessor George Rooker
Re: Davidson County Property Reappraisal
April 2009
Dear friends – As you are probably aware, Davidson County is going through a property reappraisal. I appreciate the many questions that you probably have about this process. I am very interested in answering your questions thoroughly and listening to your concerns carefully. Please see the broad facts below as a starting point for discussion.
Public meetings countywide: Public meetings have been scheduled around the county by many Council Members. If you are unable to make the meeting in your area, please feel free to attend any that will work with your schedule (see schedule below). Each meeting will include a quick, 20-minute power point presentation with Q and A im mediately following.
Notice mailing dates and property information updated online: My office will mail property reappraisal notices to approximately 260,000 property owners throughout April. The southeastern portion of the county (including Council districts 13, 16, 17, and 26-33) will receive notices around April 10. The northern portion of the county (including Council districts 1-15, excluding 13) will receive notices around April 17. The southwestern portion of the county (including Council districts 18-25, as well as 34 and 35) will receive notices around April 24.
Please also see our website for more information, to view your property information specifically after the corresponding mailing date, and to contact my office if you have concerns – http://www.padctn.com/. Phone: 862-6080.
Here are important broad facts to get us started:
1) Why does the Property Assessor’s office reappraise homes? To restore fairness. We are required by state law to reappraise property values periodically so the city may distribute the property tax burden fairly.
2) Why do we have a property tax? The property tax funds about half of the city’s annual budget, which pays for services - fire and police protection, public schools, parks, corrections, libraries, trash collection, and so on.
3) How do you determine my property’s value? Much like when you bought your home, we conduct an appraisal - which means we visit every property in the county to determine if and how the property has changed (or not). Then we compare each property in the area to similar properties in the same area that sold near January 1, 2009 (creating market value).
4) I know my property value has fallen… The reappraisal process happens every four years. The last reappraisal was done in 2005. Most properties in our city gained value throughout 2005, 2006 and part of 2007. Data show us that values have fallen since the summer of 2007, but not enough to outweigh overall gains. At the end of the day, most home values have produced a net gain since 2005.
5) The county may not make a “profit” from the reappraisal process. If the appraisals for the entire county show an increase in overall property values, the property tax rate (the multiplier) is reduced to neutralize the gain. The discussion about the property tax rate continues from there. The Property Assessor’s office does not determine the final tax rate.
6) My assessment seems wrong… We want to set your property value correctly an d fairly. We encourage you to check our work and inform us of any errors about your home’s characteristics (number of bathrooms, for example). Please see the Property Assessor’s website to view specific information about your property, and to see information about the process for informal review and appeals.
Please see the Property Assessor’s website for more information and to contact us – http://www.padctn.com/. Thank you for your time and please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need more information.
George Rooker, Jr.
Assessor of Property
615-862-6080
Public Meetings and other opportunities to learn - Property Reappraisal (as of April 6, 2009)
Public Meetings – Property Assessor George Rooker and Metro Council members invite you to a public meeting in your neighborhood regarding the Property Reappraisal process. If you can not attend your area’s meeting, please feel free to attend a meeting that works well with your schedule. The Property Assessor’s office is dedicated to connecting with citizens throughout the county, and meetings have been set for Mr. Rooker to discuss this issue with citizens personally throughout March, April and into early May. We will continue to set meetings as we go along, as needed. Property Reappraisal Notices will be mailed to all property owners between April 10-24.
What will the public meetings include? Property Assessor George Rooker is very interested in answering your questions thoroughly and listening to your concerns carefully. Mr. Rooker will present a 20-minute Power point presentation and take questions/discussion immediately following. The presentation will address: why the city is undergoing a reappraisal now, how property is evaluated, statistics regarding property values both district-specific and countywide, the certified tax rate and how it functions, and so on. If you have further informational questions now, please see www.padctn.com for immediate assistance. You are always welcome to call the Property Assessor’s office for more help at 862-6080.
Other opportunities to learn from home – Mr. Rooker will appear on Channel 5+’s Openline television program – A one-on-one, hour long interview program with Chann el 5 Anchor Rhori Johnston (Comcast cable channel 50). Mr. Rooker will explain the reappraisal process and take questions and comments live. Openline: 7-8pm, Wednesday, April 15 on Comcast cable channel 50.
The Property Assessor’s office is also completing an in-depth Power point and video presentation, very similar to what will be presented at community meetings, to air on Metro Channel 3 (Comcast cable channel 3). The program will air many times after April 10.
The Property Assessor’s office is also working diligently to update the website and make navigation much easier.
Public Meetings – Property Reappraisal, Q&A with Property Assessor George Rooker
Council Dist ricts 4, 9, 10 (Madison, Rivergate, Goodlettsville) with Council members Michael Craddock, Jim Forkum, and Rip Ryman – 6pm – Thursday, April 2 – Parkway Baptist Church, 505 Cunniff Pkwy.
Inglewood Neighborhood Association with District 8 Council member Karen Bennett – 7pm – Thursday, April 2 – Riverwood Church of Christ, 1904 McGavock Pike.
Council District 31 with Council member Parker Toler – 1pm – Saturday, April 4 – Woodson Chapel Church of Christ, 5800 Edmondson Pike.
Hillwood Men’s Club – 6pm – Monday, April 6 – (Please call Elizabeth M-K Sullivan for further details. 474-5679)
Old Hickory Chamber of Commerce – 11:30am – Tuesday, April 7 – (Please call Elizabeth M-K Sullivan for further details. 474-5679)
Joelton Civitan Club – 6pm – Tuesday, April 7 - (Please call Elizabeth M-K Sullivan for further details. 474-5679)
Council District 18 (Belmont/Hillsboro/West End) with Council member Megan Barry – 7pm – Wednesday, April 8 – Martin Professional Development Center, 2400 Fairfax Avenue.
Council Dist rict 6 (East Nashville) with Council member Mike Jameson – 6:30pm – Thursday, April 9 - East Park Community Center, Corner of Woodland Street and 6th Street.
Cane Ridge Community Club with Council member Sam Coleman – 6:45pm – Thursday, April 9 – Cane Ridge Community Center, 6043 Cane Ridge Road.
Concerned Citizens of South Inglewood Neighborhood Association – 6:30pm – Monday, April 13 - South Inglewood Community Center, 1625 Rebecca Street.
Tusculum Neighbors with Council member Sam Coleman – 6:45pm – Monday, April 13 – Antioch United Methodist Church, 41 Tusculum Road.
Donelson-Hermitage Chamber of Commerce and neighbors – 6pm – Tuesday, April 14 – Hermitage Branch Library, 3700 James Kay Lane.
Priest Lake Neighbors with Council member Sam Coleman – 6:45pm – Tuesday, April 14 – Mt. View Elementary School, 3820 Murfreesboro Road.
District 29 with Council member Vivian Wilhoite – 6:30pm – Thursday, April 16 – Una Elementary School, 2018 Murfreesboro Road.
East Hig h Alumni Association – 11:30am – Thursday, April 23 - (Please call Elizabeth M-K Sullivan for further details. 474-5679)
Council District 20 (West Nashville) with Council member Buddy Baker – 7pm – Thursday, April 23 – Barth-Vernon United Methodist Church, 6200 Robertson Road.
Council District 3 (Parkwood, Union Hill, Whites Creek) with Council member Walter Hunt – 6pm – Friday, April 24 – Skyline Medical Center, 3441 Dickerson Pike, community room near cafeteria.
Council Districts 23, 24, 25, and 32 (West side) with Council members Emily Evans, Sean McGuire, Jason Holleman, and Carter Todd – 6pm – Tuesday, April 28 – Julia Green=2 0Elementary School, 3500 Hobbs Road.
12South Neighborhood Association – time/date TBA.
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Has your neighborhood been included or left out? Thoughts on the Metro's attempts to manage expectations about this tax assessment?
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