COLUMBIANA CO. Auditor wants to lower taxes

Rising property values reflect commercial and residential growth.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Columbiana County Auditor Nancy Milliken says she hopes to persuade the state to reduce proposed real estate taxes.
The county is ending a mandatory, six-year reappraisal of the value of some 77,000 homes and properties.
Milliken said the new numbers are not complete. When they are, the new property values would go onto the tax rolls at the start of 2005 for tax year 2004.
John G. Cleminshaw Inc. of Hudson has completed reappraisals for the county. But Ohio's tax commissioner still has to approve the percentage of increases in the county's 55 taxing districts based on actual sales for a three-year period.
Milliken pointed out that not all properties have been sold in recent years.
The state, working with numbers for only 2003, has proposed tax rates that could result in substantial increases for residential and agricultural properties, Milliken said.
In areas where there is commercial and residential growth, such as Salem, people may see a rise in property values.
In East Liverpool, people may see a decrease or a small increase, she said.
Reappraisal concerns
Under the reappraisal, Milliken has to check every parcel to make sure tax increases are equal between properties and the 55 districts.
Milliken said she plans to meet with Ohio Department of Taxation officials and push for the use of sales figures for the three-year period, which would even out any tax increases.
Values based only on sales in 2003 as property became desirable would be high vs. the average of sales over the three-year period.
When figures are approved, Milliken plans to send letters to all property owners to explain their new values.
The letters will include information that will help property owners decide whether their new property values are correct or should be appealed.
Milliken said she also plans to have a series of meetings in the county's cities, villages and townships. At those meetings, Milliken plans to be able to print out cards for each property owner that explain the new values.
wilkinson@vindy.com