The Franklin County Auditor is conducting a mass reappraisal of all properties in the county. This is a required process that happens every three years to ensure that property values are accurate.
Homeowners may be concerned about how the reappraisal will affect their taxes. The Auditor will use a variety of data points to determine the proposed value of each property, including:
- Recent home sales in the neighborhood
- Neighborhood data, such as the quality of the homes and proximity to amenities
- A visual inspection of the home’s exterior
Homeowners can play a role in the reappraisal process by providing the Auditor with additional information about their property. This information can help to ensure that the proposed value is accurate.
Here are some tips for homeowners who want to participate in the reappraisal process:
- Review your tentative property value online or in the mail.
- If you disagree with the value, you can file an appeal with the Franklin County Board of Revision.
- Provide the Board of Revision with any additional information that you think will help to support your appeal.
- The deadline to file an appeal is March 31, 2024.
The Franklin County Auditor is committed to ensuring that the reappraisal process is fair and accurate. By participating in the process, homeowners can help to ensure that their property taxes are based on the true value of their homes.
TODAY:
The Franklin County Auditor will mail or make available online your tentative property value. This value is the Auditor’s estimate of your property’s worth. If you agree with the value, you don’t need to do anything. However, if you believe the value is incorrect, you can take action.
You can view your new tentative property value and estimated property tax here.
SEPTEMBER:
If you believe that the tentative value assigned to your property by the Auditor’s office is incorrect, you can schedule a meeting with a member of the Auditor’s office appraisal division to discuss your property. These meetings, called property value review sessions, are held both virtually and in-person throughout Franklin County.
Property value review sessions are a great opportunity to provide the Auditor’s office with additional information about your property that may not have been considered when the tentative value was assigned. This information could include:
- Photos of recent repairs or improvements
- Copies of comparable property sales
- Documentation of any recent devaluations, such as a fire or flood
The appraiser who conducts your property value review will take all of this information into account when making a final determination of your property’s value.
Property value review sessions are typically 20 minutes long and are free of charge. To schedule a meeting, you can visit the Auditor’s office website or call their customer service line.
DECEMBER:
Once the Auditor’s office has reviewed all additional information, they will finalize the value of your property for the property tax year 2023. If you still believe that the final value is inaccurate, you can file an appeal with the Franklin County Board of Revision. The deadline to file an appeal is March 31, 2024.
Some Things to Remember:
The most important thing to remember is that property taxes are not directly proportional to property values. There are other factors that will affect how much your property taxes increase, such as voter-approved levies and your specific neighborhood delineation.
The Auditor expects property values to increase by an average of 36% across all of Franklin County. However, this does not mean that your property taxes will increase by 36%. The Auditor is expecting property tax bills to increase between 9 and 11% on average.
The amount your property taxes increase will depend on your specific neighborhood delineation and the voter-approved levies that affect your property. For example, if you live in a neighborhood with a lot of new construction, your property taxes may increase more than the average. Or, if your property is located in a taxing district that has recently approved a new levy, your property taxes may increase more than the average.
If you have any questions about the mass reappraisal process or need help appealing your property value, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are happy to help.
We know that an increase in property taxes can be frustrating, but it’s important to remember that owning a home is a great way to build wealth. Especially in a strong housing market like Columbus, where home values have been appreciating rapidly.
If you have any questions about the reappraisal process or how it might affect your property taxes, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help.