Property owners in SFC receiving reappraisal notices
Assessor’s office warns 12,300 residents of increases in values
More than 12,000 property owners in St. Francis County will receive notices that their property values have increased based on a countywide reappraisal process, resulting in higher tax bills.
On Friday, the county assessor’s office mailed 12,300 notices of value increase to SFC taxpayers. The notices will be from the SFC Board of Equalization and indicate an increase in property values.
“These notices will only be sent to taxpayers whose value increased due to reappraisal, new construction or items added to the land since the last countywide reappraisal in 2016,” said SFC Assessor Craig Jones. “Notices will not be sent to taxpayers whose values decreased.”
In 2017, the county contracted with Delta Mass Appraisal Services (DMAS) of England to begin the reappraisal process, which was recently completed.
According to Jones, the main value increase in the 2022 reappraisal is residential housing and mobile homes with some rural areas seeing an increase from 9% to 17%. The areas seeing the largest increase will be near Highway 284 and Highway 304. The cities seeing the largest increase will be Palestine, Colt and Caldwell.
“The City of Forrest City will see an increase also with 50% of taxable parcels getting an increase notices. However, the increases in Forrest City will not be as dramatic as the aforementioned areas,” said
Jones.
Jones said mobile homes will see a major increase due to these properties being “undervalued for years.”
Land deemed as agriculture will also seen an increase, but not as drastic as reappraisals from the past. According to Jones, 4,400 agricultural parcels will increase up to 14% over the next five years, which he said is far lower than the last reappraisal which saw values for agricultural properties increase 54% over five years.
Jones encourages anyone who receives a notice and disagrees with the value, to contact Delta Mass Appraisal Services “as soon as possible” at 877-643-7507.
“If you talk to them and cannot agree on a value that is satisfying to both parties, you can make an appointment to appeal this value with the St. Francis County Board of Equalization,” said Jones.
To schedule an appointment with the board, contact SFC Clerk Brandi McCoy at 870-2611729. These appointments must be made with the Board of Equalization prior to Aug. 15.
“After this date, no more appeals to the board will be possible and you are stuck with this value until 2027,” said Jones.
“If you appeal your value to the St. Francis County Board of Equalization, you will need to have something that contradicts the value reached by the reappraisal company,” said Jones. “For example, a recent appraisal from a fee appraiser is
(Continued from Page 1) something that carries a lot of weight with the board. The reason being is that a fee appraiser appraises just your home and in many cases goes inside the house, whereas the county appraiser compares your home to 8,000 other homes to construct a value and never enters a residence. In other words, appeals to the board with no hard proof of value usually results in the appeal being denied.”
Jones continued, “A call to the reappraisal company is the first step in a value dispute and in most cases results in a resolution. If you have a question concerning the $375 Homestead Tax Credit you can call the assessor’s office at 870261-1710 and we can answer questions concerning credits and freezes to value. If you are over 65 years old or 100% disabled, please call the assessor’s office and we can check to see if you qualify for these value freezes.
“If you get a notice concerning a residence’s value change, please call the reappraisal company and talk to them,” urged Jones. “They have the authority to adjust the value or reinspect the property. If you have a question concerning the homestead tax credit, please call me and I will make sure you’re receiving all of the benefits you qualify for and deserve.
“It is pertinent that you call someone if you disagree with the value placed on your real estate parcel,” Jones said. “This value increase will be on the tax statement that you receive next year. I will not be your assessor in 2023, so therefore will not be able to adjust any values that are on your 2022 tax statement.”
Jones, who in May was elected incoming SFC Judge without opposition, said, “I have been your assessor for five reappraisals and this is my last. It has been my sincere honor to be your assessor and I am truly blessed. I look froward to serving as your county judge next year and continue my service to the citizens of St. Francis County.”