The Herald-News - News Story

The Rhea County Courthouse sweltered with hot air Thursday night at a forum with state and local officials to discuss recent spikes in property appraisals, but it wasn't because of the June heat.

About 200 people filled the courtroom, and many had tough questions and sharp criticisms of state officials about why state property appraisals have spiked local property values.

Spring City resident Scott Heath posed a question on why many homes in certain locations are all appraised at such high values, when not all those homes could land that much when sold.

Lynn Tenpenny of the Tennessee Division of Property Assessments answered, saying several times throughout the forum that appraisals are done en masse through analyses of market values for certain location and property types. They then are "fine tuned" by looking at smaller group clusters of local properties.

Heath said after the meeting that he wasn't satisfied with the answers he got or with the system.

"That's not a fair appraisal," he said. "The process is broken. You can't go off of state averages."

Heath's contention, as was the case for nearly every citizen who spoke, was that the state should look at each piece of property individually for appraisals, instead of going off of bulk market values.

Helen Kincannon of the county equalization board said the board will take appeals through the day on Monday. The board was originally supposed to stop taking appeals on Friday, the day after the forum. She said property owners can call her personally or the property assessor's office.

If property owners don't agree with the equalization board's decision on appeals, they can appeal to the state equalization board, officials said. They have until Aug. 1 to file those appeals, they added. Only those who have appealed property values at the county level can appeal at the state level.

Despite the increase in property values, the county cannot generate revenue off an increase in property values. Therefore the tax rate is being lowered. County Executive Patton said the county is awaiting the rate from the state. He anticipates it to be between $1.50 and $1.60, he said.

State Rep. Jim Cobb, R-Spring City, organized the meeting. Despite the numerous statements calling the current appraisal system "broken," Cobb said he thought the forum was a success.

"I don't believe the system is broken," he said. "But I think the system has come under special pressure."

On hand besides Cobb and Tenpenny were Kelsie Jones of the state board of equalization, County Property Assessor Julene Morgan, County Executive Billy Ray Patton and county commissioners John Mincy and Doyle Montgomery.

Members of the county equalization board, the entity that handles appraisal appeals, were also on hand.

Michael Reneau can be contacted michael.reneau@rheaheraldnews.com.