York County Commissioner Chairman talks briefly about valuation, levies, budgets

YORK COUNTY – At the close of this past week’s meeting of the York County Commissioners, Chairman Randy Obermier said he wanted to briefly talk about valuation, levies and budgets.

His comments came after there have been questions since the beginning of the month regarding the increases being seen in property valuations. The questions began on June 1 as that is when the change of valuation notices were received by property owners. Some of those valuations (about 700) will be later corrected as a glitch was identified in the formulation process. However, there will be numerous properties in the county which will have valuation increases this year and some which will have increases next year.
The York County Commissioners do not determine valuations – the county assessor has that task. However, Obermier said he wanted to talk “a little bit” about the topic.
“We don’t like to see the things we own go down in value,” Obermier said. “So when the valuation increases on our properties, we have to consider what the assessor has to value it at per state statutes. Look at your value and see if it fits within the assessor’s parameters.
“Now when it comes to the actual taxes (which will be determined later), the budget process for political subdivisions will dictate how those taxes are determined,” Obermier continued. “It is up to the political subdivisions (county, cities, villages, school districts, NRD, etc.) to set the property tax levies.”
When it comes to property owners officially protesting their valuations (before the York County Commissioners sitting as the board of equalization), “the burden of proof is on the protesters to provide comparables to show how they are being treated unfairly or how the value is incorrect. State law does not allow this board to pick numbers out of the sky. So they will need to prove how their valuations are incorrect,” Obermier said.
“Now is not the time to get riled up, on valuations, yet, as later this summer we will be setting the levies and then we will see where it all ends up,” Obermier said. “We have already asked all the county department heads and elected officials to keep their budgets in check. It’s up to all the political subdivisions to keep their budgets in check. The budget process will come.
“Meanwhile, if you have questions, reach out to Kurt (York County Assessor Bulgrin),” Obermier continued. “I know he is doing things per state statute.”
Obermier said he is planning to have more public information provided about the budget process this year.
“It is my hope, my intention, that in August, we will have a budget forum for the public, in addition to the budget discussion and formulation sessions we already have during our regular meetings leading up to the public hearing for the budget,” Obermier said. “I would like to have a public forum during evening hours and we can do a workshop with a question/answer session. I think having a question/answer session will hopefully be helpful and informational to everyone.”