As many Gilmer County property owners receive their assessment notices this week, it’s almost certain they will see an increase from last year’s values.
The Gilmer Assessors Office mailed out 34,459 real property assessment notices on May 23. More than 2,700 personal property assessment notices and Forest Land Protection Act (FLPA) notices were also mailed.
It’s been another “challenging” year of property sales, noted Theresa Gooch, chief appraiser, at a May 18 assessor board meeting.
For the third year in a row, the assessors office has increased the base cost (per square foot) rates used to value homes. This year, the base cost went from from $125 to $165 (per square foot).
As for land values, Gooch noted, overall, large tract increased 10 percent, river tracts increased 20 percent and small tracts were adjusted as needed.
At the board’s March meeting, Gooch said, in reference to continually higher prices being paid for homes in the county, the assessors office is still “chasing the market,” despite previous base cost increases and residential property being revalued each year. The office having to base their values on the prior year’s sales puts them behind the booming housing and real estate market, Gooch noted then.
“It’s still going above what we raised last year for 2022,” she said.
Property owners will have 45 days from the date on the notices to appeal values. The cutoff date for filing appeals is July 7.
Appeals can be filed in person at the Gilmer County Courthouse, by mail or online at GilmerAssessors.com. Appeals can be filed on the website by first using the Property Search link to locate the property being appealed.
Property tax estimates included on the assessment notices are based on the previous year’s millage rate. This 2023 millage rate, which has not been set yet, will be used to determine this year’s property taxes.