County property values see mandated increase

Property values in Auglaize County are on the rise — to the tune of an average 19.91 percent — which means your tax bill next year may be higher as well.

Wapakoneta and Minster property owners will see a 22 percent increase in the value of their property, while St. Marys residents can expect 19 percent

Auglaize County Auditor Janet Schuler said after a triennial review, the Ohio Department of Taxation wanted the values to reflect the reality of the market. This triennial is a statistical process that reviews sales data in the county for the prior three years, 2017, 2018 and 2019. The data is compared to the county auditor’s appraised values, which were last updated in 2017.

Home sales have not slowed during the pandemic; the high cost of building, lack of available housing, and low interest rates that entice people to borrow all contribute to a rise in property values.

“Our houses are worth more than they used to be,” Schuler said.

It is important to note the Ohio Department of Taxation ( DTE) issued the order to increase values countywide by 22%.

Schuler objected and requested a 12% increase. The DTE refused to approve the tax abstract until changes were made as ordered. Schuler told the state office that she didn’t think there are enough home sales to justify more than a 16 percent increase.

Mercer County was also instructed to increase values by 22 percent; Shelby County was instructed to increase values by 20 percent.

Schuler said she hoped the increase in values meant they wouldn’t increase as nearly as much for the next review.

Fair market values for about 30,000 properties in Auglaize County were compiled for the triennial review, according to Schuler. The new triennial values go into affect Jan. 1, 2020 — taxes payable in the year 2021, and will be the values on which real estate tax bills are based.

Beginning Friday, property values will be open to the public. The new property record information may be viewed on the County Auditor’s website, https:// auglaizeohauditor. ddti. net/. Office hours are 8 a. m. to 4: 30 p. m. Monday through Friday. Please call at ( 419) 739- 6705.

The Auditor’s staff will be available to review the new market values and property information until Oct. 30, 2020 when the final abstract is required to be submitted to the Department of Taxation for approval.

Schuler asked the public keep in mind the purpose is to establish the market value of the property. The auditor’s office does not establish tax rates.

“Although your value may have changed, your taxes will not necessarily change by the same percentage,” Schuler said.

The auditor has not yet received tax rates from the State of Ohio for next year’s tax bills, so they will not be able to determine what your taxes will be next year at this time.

In the meantime, the auditor’s website has a tax estimator for property owners to use as an estimate, bearing in mind that it is currently using tax rates from last year until the new 2020 rates are received in December.