HARDIN CO. – Taxpayers in Hardin County are, one after another, reporting their extreme displeasure over increases in property tax.
This year’s upticks are actually an accumulation of about three years’ worth of increases, as there hasn’t been an assessment until 2017, because the county hasn’t had a permanent tax assessor, as it’s not an elected office in Hardin.
The board of review met in December and heard complaints about tax increases from several residents across the county, but they by no means were all of the taxpayers.
The last night for the board of review having passed on December 13, with no more reviews to be made, many Hardin County taxpayers were left without a way to appeal the increases and those ones will unfortunately have to contend with the increases.
But others have related what happened to them in the days leading up to the close-out of reviews, including those who don’t reside in Hardin and haven’t for awhile. They had to deal with the matter by phone…and they had a hard time of it.
One former Hardin resident related to Disclosure that she had heard, via social networking and friends who were aware of the situation, that taxes were increasing, “raised to a ridiculous amount,” the woman, who preferred to remain unidentified in print, said.
“I haven’t lived there for several years but still own property there,” the former Hardin resident said. “Since I had heard that they were being raised, I was concerned enough to make a call to the treasurer’s office because I only had a few days remaining to appeal the decision even though the tax papers had not been mailed on time,” she reported, advising that as of December 29, she was aware that the paperwork still had not been mailed out.
The former resident said that when someone in the treasurer’s office answered the phone, the taxpayer explained the reason for her call and wanted to know simply if her taxes had gone up.
The response she received was “Well, did you see your name in the paper?”
“I then had to try not to show my exasperation and maybe get them raised,” the former resident said, “and explain that not everyone subscribes to the local paper.”
The former resident then asked if the deputy would please look up the amount for the former resident. Fortunately, she said, the taxes were the same as the year before.
Unfortunately, a friend of hers saw her taxes rise from $1,600 a year to $3,200.
“My friend had no improvements on the property,” the former resident said, “and in such a depressed area, too.”
The former resident’s primary concern at the point of communicating with Disclosure was that on that day (Dec. 29), it was the last day to pay property taxes and still be able to use them as a deduction on her 2017 taxes.
“And I’m sure that some people still do not know about the new assessment,” she added.
Where, exactly, the difficulties lie in ensuring properties are assessed properly so that massive increases don’t occur in the future is not exactly known. It’s the responsibility of the county board to make certain properties are assessed on a regular basis and that there is a competent person to get the assessment done. However, with declining population and attempting to keep a school running in the county, taxes are, as a result, going to rise.
Citizens are encouraged to attend county board meetings and communicate with board commissioners to learn what can be done about assessments and increases in the future…and let them know what kind of hardships this might present, for residents living in the county, as well as those who own property in Hardin but reside elsewhere.