MOUNT VERNON — The current controversy about rising property taxes has brought questions to the Knox County Commissioners’ Office, according to Commissioner Allen Stockberger.
The mailing of property valuations of over 42,000 parcels in the county earlier this month by the auditor’s office, has resulted in phone calls and questions to the auditor’s office and of the commissioners. Stockberger and Commissioner Bob Wise said they felt some citizens may be prematurely upset about property tax bills, which have not yet been calculated.
“The unfortunate thing is those valuations have created some paranoia among folks,” Stockberger said.
Wise said the increase in property taxes, which will hit Knox County residents next year, is not only due to the new valuations.
“The biggest increase in people’s taxes will be due to the levies they voted in,” he said.
New countywide levies for MRDD and the Knox County Park District, as well as other replacement levies throughout the county, were approved by voters last week.
The commissioners said that while some increased revenue will be paid into the general fund as a result of higher taxes, most of the money will be earmarked by levies, and will go to express purposes.
Stockberger said the commissioners wanted to explain to taxpayers that the percentage their home’s value may have increased, is not necessarily a direct indication of how much the property tax bills will have increased when they are delivered after the new year.
“They see an increase in property valuation and they automatically think their taxes are going to go up the same percentage,” Stockberger said. “There are more things affecting that.
“It’s a complex issue,” he explained. “There isn’t any way to put your finger on one thing,” he said of the causes of rising property taxes.
The commissioners invite county residents with questions to seek answers to those questions. Stockberger also stressed the fact that the commissioners are not involved with the appraisal process.
“County commissioners did not have anything to do with increased property valuations,” he said. “We are not purposefully revaluating to generate funds.
“I think it’s important for people to know there are people who can answer their questions about taxes and appraisals,” Stockberger said. “We’re simply willing to chat with them and Margaret Ann [Ruhl’s] office has people, too.”
