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03/18/1994 22:43 6512286241 FIRE PREVENTION PAGE 02 4 -22 -99 Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Centerville 1880 Main St. Centerville e* 55038 On April 8, 1999 I appeared at the City Council hearing to appeal what I thought was an extraordinary increase in the estimated value of my home for year 2000. On April 12 Mt. Smith the Appraiser cams to the house to re- evaluate the Lot, as we were told at the meeting that the increase waa due to the lot valuation. Mr. Smith told me that it was necessary to look through the entire house, which he then did. and then informed as that although I would be receiving an adjustmsat to the lot valuation along with the other 5 homeowner* on the west and of the block. he could not adjust the original structure valuation because as he stated "The house was clean, well maintained and vary saleable ". I offer the following reasons why I differ with Mr. Smith's opinion: 1) I purchased the property in 1988 for $100,000, filed a Certificate of Beal Estate Value for the purchase price. and the value and taxes were adjusted accordingly. 2) Every area in the house, let and 2nd floor that are finished now were finished at the time of purchase, and although I have redecorated. updated, replaced windows and doors, etc., the only addition I have made was the porch. 3) I contacted Mr. Smith prior to the decision to add the porch to explain that I was replacing a deck because the ground water had destroyed the footings, and that I would be filing an application for This Old House tax deferment. I was told that the value increase would be 50% of the porch value, less the value of the deck which was removed. Usually a porch addition would not add the full dollar value of the permit price to the value of the house. 4) I received an increased market value of $37,000 and an increased taxable value of 20,400. After Mr. Smith's reevaluation I now have an increase of $31,300 taxable value and the same increase of $20,400 in taxable value because that figure was not reduced. This compares to what I had anticipated 7,600 plus a reasonable increase in land value. I agree that real estate values are on an economic whirlwind but I cannot agree that a 1961 ramblefon a 75' lot with a tandem garage adjacent to the softball field and 4 houses from the noise and traffic of County Rd. 14 can increase in value by $31,300 in one year..' I ask that the Council consider the increased value of my home compared to much newer hones around mine.I believe chat This Old House tax deferment was intended to encourage people with older homes to maintain and improve them, and do so by • pulling permits to see that the work is done Safely and correctly. With examples like my experience homeowners will certainly be discouraged from doing this. Thank you for your consideration. / S t • •