Property owners light up phones, jam assessor's site
BY ALGIS J. LAUKAITIS / Lincoln Journal Star
Tried the Lancaster County Assessor’s Web site lately to look at the valuation of your property or those in your neighborhood?
Lots of people have in the last few days after they got preliminary notices in the mail and they’ve found the Web site to be very slow. Or they’ve been kicked off after a long wait.
It’s gotten so bad that County Assessor Norm Agena posted the following notice on the Web site:
Tell us about your valuation. You don’t need to give your name or your exact address, but include your neighborhood, the age and size of your home, the change in your valuation -- and your opinion. Send your story to citydesk@journalstar.com with “Property valuation” in the subject line.
What can you do?
* Visit the assessor’s Web site: lancaster.ne.gov/cnty/assess/index.htm. That’s where you can find the notice and a list of properties used as a comparison to come up with the preliminary valuation. ID numbers were on the notices sent by mail, but property owners can enter their name and address, too. Note: Many people are trying to visit this site. Be patient. Try at off-peak times of the day.
* If you want to discuss your preliminary valuation or suggest an error, call the Lancaster County Assessor/Register of Deeds Office, 441-7463, to set up an appointment. Call by Feb. 27.
The Assessors Search site is having a large amount of hits to its server due to the preliminary value notices. You may experience sluggish response or even timing out when attempting to load a data sheet. Please be patient and try utilizing the site on lower peak hours for the next couple of weeks. Thank you for your patience.
Agena mailed about 96,000 preliminary notices to residential and agricultural property owners on Friday. Most got them on Monday and Agena’s phones have been ringing off the wall ever since.
“They’re concerned about their values and are asking why they’ve gone up or down,” Agena said Wednesday.
Some property owners have seen their valuations go up by $10,000, $20,000 or more. Agena said the increases could be due to a variety of reasons:
* New construction, including remodeling. Also, the property owner could have had a partial assessment last year if the owner’s construction wasn’t complete.
* There are properties whose values have not been reassessed since 2006.
* There are some areas in Lincoln where market values have gone up or stayed very stable.
Chuck Ranta, who owns a townhouse in the Rolling Hills subdivision in south Lincoln, is one of the frustrated property owners who has been trying to find comparable properties on the Web site. He plans to make an appointment with Agena’s office so he can talk to an appraiser about the 10 percent increase in his valuation.
Like many people, Ranta was surprised by the increase, especially in these difficult economic times.
“It does not reflect what the selling price would be of the townhomes in my area,” Ranta said. “In reality, it should have gone down 10 percent.”
Ranta said he could not sell his townhouse right now for the amount listed in his preliminary valuation — not in this real estate market.
“I have no qualms about paying my fair share. I’m happy to do that,” Ranta said.
The preliminary valuations are based on a countywide reappraisal of property, which is done every three years. The last one was completed in 2006.
Agena declined to give a percentage figure on what property values have done since 2006.
“I don’t even get into that,” he said. “I don’t do percentages because you have to look at the individual properties and not what the overall percentage change is because that means absolutely nothing to the individual property owner.”
Agena said those types of countywide percentage figures are compiled by the state Department of Revenue and will be available after the final valuations are mailed out.
“Nothing will be done based on preliminary values,” he said.
Agena’s staff is very busy taking messages and scheduling appointments for anyone who wants to come in and talk about a preliminary notice with one of his appraisers.
“We’re asking people to be patient and we’ll get back to them as soon as we possibly can,” Agena said.
Appointments can be made through the end of February on a first-come basis.
Agena plans to send out final valuations in early June. That’s when commercial property owners should get theirs, too.
Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at (402) 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.
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Great wrote on January 14, 2009 1:32 pm:
Cory wrote on January 14, 2009 1:41 pm:
Assessors office is out of touch wrote on January 14, 2009 1:53 pm:
Confused wrote on January 14, 2009 1:56 pm:
Protest it wrote on January 14, 2009 2:01 pm:
confused too wrote on January 14, 2009 2:12 pm:
doesnt make sense wrote on January 14, 2009 2:15 pm:
Chad wrote on January 14, 2009 2:33 pm:
Over it wrote on January 14, 2009 2:34 pm:
agnry new homeowner wrote on January 14, 2009 2:44 pm:
topaz wrote on January 14, 2009 2:57 pm:
To their credit, the assessor's office was prompt and friendly, and I have an appointment to discuss my property. But I'm not sure how their figures get so out of whack. I'd advise all property owners to check details carefully if their valuation is 10% or greater. "
Hmmm... wrote on January 14, 2009 3:01 pm:
Outta here wrote on January 14, 2009 3:03 pm:
neighborhood wrote on January 14, 2009 3:07 pm:
Whats Up With Assessments wrote on January 14, 2009 3:07 pm:
OleClone wrote on January 14, 2009 3:14 pm:
It's interesting housing through out the U.S has gone down in value this past year, everywhere EXCEPT in Lincoln, NE. "
Assessment Computer Program Question wrote on January 14, 2009 3:19 pm:
Carl wrote on January 14, 2009 3:19 pm:
Confused Upset wrote on January 14, 2009 3:20 pm:
Confused too wrote on January 14, 2009 3:23 pm:
RJ wrote on January 14, 2009 3:45 pm:
john wrote on January 14, 2009 3:49 pm:
Be prepared for some very long nights.
My house went up 9.85% that had been reassessed.
My call will be next if I can get threw.
What a bone headed move, thanks Norm. "
Journalist wrote on January 14, 2009 4:09 pm:
Were seeing prices fall all over wrote on January 14, 2009 4:11 pm:
Frustrated wrote on January 14, 2009 4:17 pm:
Tokmo wrote on January 14, 2009 4:21 pm:
this House has only gone up 24000.00 that X 2.0295140 the 2008 levy rate =
an additional $487.08 per year tax divided by 12 = $40.00 a month increase
Quit whining Surely you can afford it. If not MOVE "
Beasley wrote on January 14, 2009 4:23 pm:
HOW ABOUT THESE S wrote on January 14, 2009 4:24 pm:
Troy at UNL wrote on January 14, 2009 4:32 pm:
jack wrote on January 14, 2009 4:34 pm:
sorry amt. was wrong on last one "
Comm UnSense wrote on January 14, 2009 4:36 pm:
Helen wrote on January 14, 2009 4:40 pm:
unhappy wrote on January 14, 2009 4:42 pm:
Mr. T wrote on January 14, 2009 4:53 pm:
Arena wrote on January 14, 2009 5:01 pm:
KIRBY YOUNG wrote on January 14, 2009 5:11 pm:
Its time to stand up, gov. must be accountable for runnaway spending and poor planning. "
Seriously wrote on January 14, 2009 5:28 pm:
Martin wrote on January 14, 2009 5:35 pm:
BD wrote on January 14, 2009 5:36 pm:
Martin wrote on January 14, 2009 5:39 pm:
jason wrote on January 14, 2009 5:42 pm:
unbelieveable wrote on January 14, 2009 5:46 pm:
My problem is I dont know which one to protest! If I dont protest the one that went down, its value will be lower to interested parties next summer when I try to sell it. (plus, I lose equity on paper and that is what my banker looks at!) If I dont protest the one that went up, I end up paying more taxes than everybody else on my street. I just cant win! "
Whatabunchabunk wrote on January 14, 2009 5:51 pm:
andy wrote on January 14, 2009 6:23 pm:
Nothing New wrote on January 14, 2009 6:59 pm:
Oh my wrote on January 14, 2009 7:03 pm:
The tax payers that's who.
Thanks gov "
Choices wrote on January 14, 2009 7:11 pm:
Ramshackel wrote on January 14, 2009 7:21 pm:
Less than 2000 wrote on January 14, 2009 7:40 pm:
lincoln resident wrote on January 14, 2009 7:49 pm:
David wrote on January 14, 2009 9:20 pm:
Kevin of Lincoln wrote on January 14, 2009 9:37 pm:
Norm wrote on January 14, 2009 9:39 pm:
Some one has wrote on January 14, 2009 9:51 pm:
and the bloated salaries City managers, They think they must pay more to keep them.
So they run the over-tax game. What a crock we all know it's not fair
when people are losing jobs and money is tighter and these people still live in hog heaven. On our tax dollar, can't fight city hall! "
bls wrote on January 14, 2009 9:58 pm:
read again Double wammy wrote on January 14, 2009 10:00 pm:
INCREASE. Now they will raise the levys to drowned us all! "
Dell wrote on January 14, 2009 10:45 pm:
Boycott or vote wrote on January 14, 2009 11:05 pm:
Pure Scam wrote on January 14, 2009 11:34 pm:
and you people think they listen wrote on January 15, 2009 6:34 am:
Still in shock wrote on January 15, 2009 6:49 am:
A simple question wrote on January 15, 2009 7:24 am:
Angry wrote on January 15, 2009 7:31 am:
not cheap wrote on January 15, 2009 8:14 am:
J wrote on January 15, 2009 8:43 am:
Get Smart wrote on January 15, 2009 8:44 am:
Christy wrote on January 15, 2009 9:12 am:
Art V. wrote on January 15, 2009 9:20 am:
i think wrote on January 15, 2009 9:31 am:
Maxwell Smart wrote on January 15, 2009 9:59 am:
Alan wrote on January 15, 2009 11:09 am:
Meanwhile I will hire un-licensed contractors and pay them in cash or do the work myself without permits. And never ever let the accessor into your home. "
Tapped Out wrote on January 15, 2009 11:42 am:
Now comes the train wreck and Agena floats this first time ever preliminary notice balloon to see how much the Lancaster Co. taxpayer will squeal. And how much more your local politicians can count on spending without having to take responsibility for a levy increase. As dear old Dad used to say--"what a counterfeit outfit" "
Beamer wrote on January 15, 2009 12:14 pm:
Steve wrote on January 15, 2009 12:36 pm:
Bud wrote on January 15, 2009 12:53 pm:
Three Gs wrote on January 15, 2009 1:12 pm:
Fair wrote on January 15, 2009 1:28 pm:
Give me a break wrote on January 15, 2009 3:25 pm:
I think not wrote on January 15, 2009 3:35 pm:
Yup wrote on January 15, 2009 3:44 pm:
Fair, I also agree with you. If the values are falling in the 90-100% of the true market value then fine. However, from my experience, will be 4 of the last 5 years now, I will have to protest because the values are again WAY off base. My values went up 5,000 last year and I thought that was fair. Another 32,000 this year I think is ridiculous!!! I guess I'll find out when I get the new appraisal. If it is accurate, anyone in the market?? :) "
Three Gs wrote on January 15, 2009 3:50 pm:
Oviously missing the point. If they were Fair we wouldn't be complaining. You must be missing part of this. I guess the point is if the accessor was doing his job there should never be large changes in the values of properties. If you do it only every third year there is alot more potential for large swings and public out rage!! "
CM wrote on January 15, 2009 4:24 pm:
Move to Omaha wrote on January 15, 2009 5:12 pm:
Sarpy wrote on January 15, 2009 6:44 pm:
Sarpy is a nice area, but not the utopia of taxes! (and we don't need to comment on Douglas...boom boom.) "
To Alan... wrote on January 15, 2009 8:01 pm:
These boards are hilarious... all these angry people not wanting to pay their fair share of taxes. Maybe you can afford an island somewhere so "the man" can't stick it to you anymore?? LOL! "
robbed wrote on January 15, 2009 8:08 pm:
Greg wrote on January 15, 2009 8:41 pm:
Suspicious wrote on January 15, 2009 9:55 pm: