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By Mike Barnhardt
Enterprise Record

If you don’t agree with your property tax valuations sent last month by Davie County, file and appeal.
And be patient.
That was the advice from County Commissioner Terry Renegar, who on Monday said he had been hearing from plenty of residents.
“I’ve gotten several calls about the notice you received on revaluation,” he said. “We’re working through that. I would ask everyone to take a deep breath and understand we are aware of the situation and the tax department is working really hard to get us some numbers. And use the appeals process (Details were included with the reval notices.). And just be patient.”
The county tax base values property every four years, with the goal of establishing fair market values.
One resident said the county changed the way it looks at properties: taking older buildings and valuing them on 1990 values. They said their property value on a 1920 house over the years went from $70,000 to $50,000 – than with the most recent value mailed last month – $220,000.
Others in that situation can contact the tax department, which can send people out to inspect the individual property to help determine the true value.
Appraisers divided the county into approximately 215 appraisal neighborhoods. Appraisers reviewed properties and market information including recent sales win these neighborhoods. A “Uniform Schedule of Values” was used to evaluate properties using the same standards to maintain fairness and equity.
The revaluation was conducted in-house by county staff familiar with the local real estate market and who are certified and licensed real property tax appraisers by the NC Department of Revenue.
Depending on market conditions and recent sales, your assessed values may increase, decrease, or remain the same.
While the revaluation determines the tax value of property, the tax rate is determined by county commissioners and the town boards. The tax rate is typically set in June. A tax bill is determined by multiplying the tax value by the tax rate.
The county tax department provided the following information.
“Revaluation is the reappraisal of value of each parcel of real estate including land, buildings, and outbuildings. A revaluation does not include personal property such as automobiles and boats whose values are adjusted on an annual basis.
“The purpose is not to raise or lower the tax assessments or tax base of a county. The main purpose is to establish fairness and equity among all property owners and all property types. Market value means the most probable price which a property should bring in a competitive and open market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale, the buyer and seller each acting prudently and knowledgeable, and assuming the price is not affected by undue stimulus.”
In Davie County, property is revaluated every four years.