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Property tax predicament: Homeowners appeal for a fair deal

Page Last Updated: Monday February 8, 2010 6:02am PST

Hetty Chang reporting

It used to be a good thing when you found out your property valued is more money than expected.

While this is still the case for some, thousands of valley homeowners want to cut their property taxes as the economy leaves them trying to catch a tax break.

“We're being tagged by gangs. We are being overrun by homeless.”

It’s not what you would image in Summerlin, but homeowner Michele Burke says it is happening in her neighborhood.

“I’m watching drug deals take place from the window of my home.”

Burke says because she has watched her neighborhood go downhill she believes her home is overvalued. She - like 8,000 other Clark County property owners - believes she’s paying too much in property taxes.

In front of a panel of real estate executives, Burke pleaded her case.

“Apparently we've been attacked by something called the Valley Car Criminal Gangsters, which used to be the Spring Valley Gang but has now come into our neighborhood.”

If she can convince the panel that the county has overvalued her home, Burke could catch a break on her taxes.

Like many others, she came prepared with comparables showing her same model home valued for less. For some, coming prepared worked. But not for Burke.

Board Member. You say that's the model matched to your house?

"It's identical, yes."

Board Member: I would make a motion to accept the assessor's recommendation and deny the appellant.

“Now they're saying its worth $220,000,” says Burke. “If I could get $220,000 I’d sell tomorrow.”

This year the county is dealing with 8,000 appeals - a record. Homeowner Jeanette Matthews says the economy is also forcing her to save any way she can.

“I have three houses and of course I’m upside down in all of them. I don't think its fair for me to take the upper end. I’m asking for $158,389.”

Getting their property taxes reduced isn’t an easy task for homeowners; many say they feel as if they had to become real estate agents overnight. On top of this, the county is airing the appeals live on its cable channel, making things a little more intimidating.

“It’s hard because you're trying to plead your case and to them it's business,” says Matthews.

But for the panel, it is business as usual; already more than half of the appeals are done with only thousands more to go.

Last year more than half of the 6,000 property owners who filed appeals were successful in decreasing their values. The county does not expect as many this time around.

The property tax hearings will continue until the end of February.

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