Washington Township Lost $324K to Tax Appeals in 2012

Washington Township property owners successfully appealed more than $300,000 worth of taxes this year.

Property owners can appeal their tax bill to the county if they believe the value of their home or business is inaccurately appraised. The number of appeals in the township has been increasing each year, and the amount of money refunded has also increased. The township lost about $168,000 in 2010 and $194,000 last year.

A spreadsheet prepared by township officials earlier this year estimated that , but the final sum was delayed as the county had to consider the appeals. The council approved the final refunds at their meeting last week, bringing the year's total to about $324,000 in refunds.

Township attorney Kenneth Poller previously said that many of the appeals were coming from condo owners.

When a property owner is successful with a tax appeal, the municipality is responsible for refunding money for itself, as well as the local school and county taxes collected.

Township officials are planning to have a revaluation performed next year to combat the rising number of tax appeals. The changes will affect property taxes in 2014.

During the revaluation, inspectors will have to visit every property in the township and give information they collect to appraisers. The township last had a revaluation done in 2006.

Despite the losses this year, township officials said they expected to be able to handle the surprise costs of Hurricane Sandy without needing to use emergency purchases that would go into next year's budget.

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