COLUMBIANA COUNTY Property values to be reappraised

Property in Lisbon is the first that will be examined as part of the two-year process.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Reappraisals of property values in Columbiana County are likely to begin next month, says county Auditor Nancy Milliken.
Residents in Lisbon will see the first representatives of John G. Clemingshaw Inc., the Hudson-based company hired by the county to conduct the reappraisal.
Eventually, inspectors will fan out throughout the county, visiting all the nearly 77,0000 commercial, business and residential properties over the two-year period it will take to conduct the state-mandated reappraisal.
The inspectors' aim is to examine a property and collect information to help ascertain its current market value.
The inspectors will consider several factors, including the property's condition, its location and the number and size of buildings on it.
Taxes: The property's value is used by the county to establish the property taxes that will be assessed for each parcel.
The more valuable the property, the higher the taxes.
If a property's value goes up, so will the taxes on it. Any increases would be collected beginning in 2005.
The county's last reappraisal, conducted between 1996 and 1998, resulted in property taxes going up about 18 percent overall.
Many county officials have said they believe the increase sparked outrage among voters and led them to scrap the county's 1 percent sales tax in May 1999.
The two taxes are unrelated. Voters restored the sales tax in November 2000.
Milliken said one of her goals regarding the upcoming reappraisal is to keep county residents informed of its progress and to be available to answer questions.
Inspectors: When inspectors stop at a home or business, they will first notify the owner or occupant of their presence.
If no one is at home when they come, the inspectors will proceed with their examination, which entails looking at exterior features of buildings and measuring the structures.
Before departing, they'll leave a card notifying the owner that they were there.
The card will contain a phone number that can be called if there are any questions.
Clemingshaw will be paid $998,000 to conduct the appraisal.
Money for the expense will come from a real estate fund that is fueled with property tax revenue.
The state requires Ohio counties to undertake reappraisals every six years. The efforts are done on a rotating basis, so not all counties are doing them at the same time.
Mahoning and Trumbull counties are expected to start their reappraisals in 2003. Any resulting change in taxes would take effect in 2005.