Kerry DoughertyKnock, knock.
Don't look now, but that could be the Norfolk real estate assessor at your door.
Not content with merely taking a gander at the exterior of your abode, and factoring in building permits and sales of comparable houses, Deborah Bunn and her lieutenants want to snoop around inside to determine your castle's worth.
Wait. What's that? You just lost your job and spent the week building cabinets and painting your living room?
Well aren't you the lucky one. You may have just hiked your own taxes.
I learned about this astonishing effort by Norfolk to raise assessments (they wouldn't be going to all this trouble to lower them, would they?) from http://blog.vivianpaige.com, a local blog managed by the Norfolk CPA of the same name.
One of Paige's readers wrote that she was "seriously troubled" that government workers would want to come onto her property. My first instinct was that Paige - or her irate correspondent - had to be mistaken.
But they were right.
A news release, posted last month on the city's Web site, explained that the city workers, driving city vehicles, would fan out around the city:
"Beginning April 20, the Norfolk Real Estate Assessor's office will begin a five year field review program that will include a physical inspection of every residential and commercial property in the City of Norfolk.
"Field reviews will be conducted Monday thru Friday from 9:00 am - 5 pm. The neighborhood inspections will take place from April through July for the next five years. Prior to initiating the inspection of a particular property, the appraiser will make the appropriate introduction at the door. If the owner/occupant is not home, an exterior review will be conducted and a notice will be left informing the owner of the visit...."
Hmmm. This could be an interesting social experiment.
When we find out how many residents rolled out the welcome mat, we'll also know how many Norfolkians were asleep during high school civics class.
Reminder for the snoozers: This is America. Except in very few cases, you do not have to allow government agents - without search warrants - in your home.
Still, as one blog commenter noted, many folks will be too cowed by a city badge and a clipboard to assert their rights.
Troubling, indeed.
When I spoke to her Monday, Bunn said 15 workers from her office had begun canvassing the 56,396 private dwellings in the city. The assessor acknowledged that residents "have the right to say no" to the inspectors.
If they're turned away, the workers will take a picture of the house and walk around the exterior.
"We won't push the matter," she assured me.
But Bunn noted that the city attorney's office had told her she had the authority to go onto private property and even wander around a fenced yard, provided the gate is unlatched.
Memo to Norfolk homeowners: Buy locks. Now.
Curiously, Norfolk City Attorney Bernard Pishko said Monday that he hadn't heard about the assessor's grand plan and had no comment about city workers trying to gain entry to private homes.
When asked about the power of the city to traipse around private property, including fenced-in yards, Pishko said that wouldn't be trespassing. Property needs to be posted.
Oooh. I smell a cottage industry in tasteful "Keep Out" signs.
I asked the assessor if it was fair that those accommodating types with tidy houses and fresh paint might see their assessments raised, while their more slovenly neighbors might not.
Not going to happen, Bunn said. Her employees are looking for structural improvements.
Such as?
Mahogany trim or granite countertops.
Oh, I see. In Norfolk, it's not enough that you paid income taxes on the money you used to buy the granite. Or that you paid a sales tax on the stone itself. And the installation.
The city is now itching to slap you with a countertop tax.
If that sounds reasonable, by all means, invite the assessor in.
Me, I'd ask to see a search warrant.
Absent that, I'd tell the city to get off my property and enjoy the view from the street.
Kerry Dougherty, (757) 446-2306, kerry.dougherty@cox.net
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No warm fuzzies from the City of Norfolk
Lately the rules/regulations and decisions coming from the City of Norfolk are starting to border on what looks like a Police State mindset. I know we aren't dealing with Beverly Hills here BUT really where is the voice of reason and logic in the governmental workings of this City? I use to live in Norfolk but I never will again.
If you aren't part of the solution - you are part of the problem. I think the City should welcome a more holistic attitude towards dealing with the issues that plague this City. For once, just try a different approach. Look around at other cities that have similar problems and have tried "out of the box" solutions for them.
THE OLD WAYS DON'T WORK ANYMORE.
want to be on the "other" list?
Sure, just deny them access and they'll not push the issue. They'll just take their Polaroids and go on their merry way. Yeah, right!!! Government workers with power complexes will bully and threaten you, and if you choose to stick to your guns you will undoubtedly be placed on the "Other" list that goes straight to the assessor's office for future harassment. I know government workers. There's no way you can try to diminish their self-perceived power without facing some sort of retribution. The city will absolutely make you pay one way or the other.
Norfolk City Assessors Plan to Enter Private Homes
Isn't this typical of our fine city officials! This is about raising more taxes for their benefit and pet projects! I guess it is also just their spin off to our loss of rights since 9/11. How many people would just let them in the door? What about the 450 properties they took for back taxes several years ago and have made no effort to sell. How much revenue is loss there? They can spend, spend, spend at the average homeowners expense. They raise and invent more fees and taxes (recent increase trash pick fees by $10/month (more than a third increase) for example and never consider reducing over inflated home assessment values or the tax rates) when most people are living on less due to this economy, loss of jobs and/or fixed incomes. Those middle class families who invested in their future by saving the most they could afford with retirement funds, investing small amounts in stocks and bonds, buying only what they could afford (including their homes) and living within their means are now wishing they had sold their homes and enjoyed their money back then (we could have had some great times with the money lost and the money for the houses we can not sell and
C'mon down
City assessor, when you're standing out front guessing what my crib looks like on the inside, please bring a policeman w/you so he can make some additional revenue for the city by writing up cars blocking the sidewalks, get the speeders, etc. Might make us feel a little safer, too (at least momentarily.) That change alone would raise our property values.
Too bad there ain't a real noise ordinance - they could write up the boom boxes blaring their profane, racist, eardrum destroying crap from every other car & so many homes now, too.
No wonder folks are heading for nicer cities - the quality of life in Norfolk's 'hoods is steadily on the decline, 'cept where the "big boys" live.
History Repeats
This situation is like a cartoon I remember as a child. It was a Porky Pig [I think] cartoon and he lived in; from outward appearances a shack, but inside was a palace. Beside every piece of furniture was a button that when pushed, flipped to the opposite side. One side a beautiful leather sofa 9 yards long and underneath was a ratty divan from the trash. A nice dining room set with arms on the chairs at each end flipped to a junky dinette from Woolworths or WT Grants. Expensive paintings on the wall would flip to 'Starving Artist' lithographs. Of course it didn't work out for Porky as when the Norfolk tax assessor showed and was invited inside, the buttons all went crazy and kept flipping all the furniture and paintings right before their eyes.
BDub
Casing the Joint.
In Northampton County here on the Eastern Shore it turns out that several of the county hired assesors were CONVICTED FELONS. Kinda make us wonder about our security.
New strategies to increase City Tax income will become SOP
During the 1930's municipalities all over the USA were confronted by citizen's who resisted efforts to extract more taxes in order to continue to fund the government. It is a fact of life that governments do not voluntarily reduce expenditures. For a free ebook on the subject see www.mises.org
just think....
how much money Norfolk would have it those on the dole in public housing had to pay ANY sort of tax...
Uninformed
JWB, you are so uninformed as to appear uneducated. This is not about anyone trying to clean up the slums or ghettos of Norfolk. This is about trying to raise real estate taxes on folks who have improved their home's interior or exterior. This is penalization of people who used their equity to improve their home instead of selling it and buying a bigger, nicer home they couldn't afford on a mortgage they couldn't pay.
Is the Assessor hiring??
I want to be the inspector that gets to visit the homes of the Mayor, City Council members, City Manager, City Assessor, all the senior city staffers, judges, sheriff, police chief, and all the other overhead folks to see just how well the insides of their homes have been improved, to ensure they pay what they should based on this lame idea. Maybe I could visit the Deckers and Boones and their peers as well!! I bet I could rack up serious bucks for the city just visiting these folks!
Uninformed
JWB, you are so uninformed as to appear uneducated. This is not about anyone trying to clean up the slums or ghettos of Norfolk. This is about trying to raise real estate taxes on folks who have improved their home's interior or exterior. This is penalization of people who used their equity to improve their home instead of selling it and buying a bigger, nicer home they couldn't afford on a mortgage they couldn't pay.
Norfolk is Norfolk
You are talking about a city where 50% of it should be condemned. Drugs, crimes,gangs, vandalism, Prostitution, neglect of property,etc. Hey, I was born in Norfolk. But now it is the pits. Look at waterside. they had a great thing going there and literally trashed it. Go do a stroll through Military Circle, and it makes you feel like you are in a foreign country. I once took my family to the Christmas parade. Never again. We got there early, took our spot and guess what. The animals took it over and threatened our family if we did not like it. Do you really think you are safe if your car breaks down there at night? Best way to get killed, raped, beaten etc. How about the scenic tour of Little Creek Rd. Need a tattoo,rims for your car, how about a stereo, a pawn shop,a cheap topless joint,a pay day loan, etc. ok, then stoll down the beach to Ocean View. Yea right! Do not forget Ghent, the old historical town, now called "Fort Apache" as this little fort is surrounded by the thugs.Ok, now you want to complain about someone trying to do something about it. Fine.
JWB
Where is it?
The "cheap" strip club???
This is awful. No one has
This is awful. No one has this right. Fire them all!!
That having been said,
thankfully we sold our home in Norfolk about four years ago and moved out of the area... the bureaucrats in Norfolk know no bounds. Council members are typically more concerned with their pet projects/personal agendas than they are with constituents concerns.
Just in case the City reneges
on the word of one Council member, these sections of the Code of Virginia might come in handy.
§ 18.2-119. Trespass after having been forbidden to do so; penalties. (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-119) and § 18.2-23. Conspiring to trespass or commit larceny. (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-23)
§ 18.2-23.
§ 18.2-23. Conspiring to trespass or commit larceny.
If any person shall conspire, confederate or combine with another or others in the Commonwealth to go upon or remain upon the lands, buildings or premises of another, or any part, portion or area thereof, having knowledge that any of them have been forbidden, either orally or in writing, to do so by the owner, lessee, custodian or other person lawfully in charge thereof, or having knowledge that any of them have been forbidden to do so by a sign or signs posted on such lands, buildings, premises or part, portion or area thereof at a place or places where it or they may reasonably be seen, he shall be deemed guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
§ 18.2-119.
§ 18.2-119. Trespass after having been forbidden to do so; penalties.
If any person without authority of law goes upon or remains upon the lands, buildings or premises of another, or any portion or area thereof, after having been forbidden to do so, either orally or in writing, by the owner, lessee, custodian or other person lawfully in charge thereof, or after having been forbidden to do so by a sign or signs posted by such persons or by the holder of any easement or other right-of-way authorized by the instrument creating such interest to post such signs on such lands, structures, premises or portion or area thereof at a place or places where it or they may be reasonably seen.
allowed by law
Do any city workers (assessors, zoning, code enforcers etc....) have the right, are they allowed by law, onto the property?
As I understand it... no one
As I understand it... no one can enter upon your property if you expressly prohibit it either in writing, verbally or by posted signs. However, this is a commonsense interpretation of the code... to be sure one need to seek legal assistance for a proper legal interpretation as it might apply in your specific situation. It is possible that a local ordinance affords city employees specific accesses not contained within the state code.