Board of equalization holds first of valuation protest hearings

​YORK – This past week, the York County Board of Equalization (made up of the York County Commissioners) sat down with York County Assessor Kurt Bulgrin to conduct the first valuation protests of this year.
But it was a far different scene from last year, as only a few protests took place – compared to the 200 last year. Granted, this was only the first session during which protests were heard and there will be more – but it doesn’t appear there will be near the volume as was seen last year.
This week, one York resident questioned why the valuation of a property she is in the middle of purchasing is so much higher than the purchase price.
Another York resident protested the value on a lot in the flood plain where there are no utilities and only a gravel street. She said the value jumped from $4,000 to $40,000. She also protested the value placed on the property where she lives as one part of the property would be very hard to develop.
A property owner in Henderson protested the valuation placed on a small vacant lot which he said would be very difficult to develop. He said he purchased the little lot for $4,500 and the valuation has now been placed at $38,500.
The commissioners heard the protests and accepted the property owners’ materials as presented. Decisions will be made later.
Also as the board of equalization:

• They considered a personal property penalty protest. Personal property filings must be done before May 1 – if not, a 10% penalty is imposed. The property owner filed on June 5 and there was some misunderstanding in the matter. The board moved to deny the protest.
• Bulgrin presented an over/under report – which reflects situations in which property owners reached out to his office to provide corrected information about their properties. Because the information had been incorrect in the assessor’s system, the changes could be made.
• They also approved a motor vehicle exemption for Epworth Village.