The Virginian-Pilot
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PORTSMOUTH
City officials are requesting an audit of assessments performed in the last fiscal year by the city assessor's office.
The city issued a request for proposals Aug. 15 to determine whether those assessments were satisfactory and met industry standards.
City leaders are also asking a contractor to analyze the office's assessment methods, management practices, technology and appeals process. Sealed bids are due by Aug. 31.
City Assessor Maria Kattmann confirmed in a phone interview Thursday that her office requested the outside review.
Kattmann took over the Portsmouth assessor's office July 1. Her predecessor, Alethia Bryce, retired on June 30 after serving as the city's assessor for five years.
Kattmann would not comment on whether she had seen anything she considered an irregularity from the previous fiscal year's assessments, which were done under Bryce's watch. Bryce declined comment.
The office assesses more than 36,000 parcels each year.
Kattmann pointed out that other jurisdictions, such as Richmond, also have had audits of their assessor's offices.
"I think it's appropriate to ask for these types of studies," Kattmann said.
Suffolk leaders also commissioned an audit when Kattmann worked as the assessor there. That review determined in 2008 that her office was well-run but understaffed.
Portsmouth Councilwoman Elizabeth Psimas said such reviews are common practice when there is a change in leadership.
She said that an audit was conducted when the city's chief financial officer, Betty Burrell, took over.
"It's certainly in the interests of our citizens - the taxpayers - that whenever there's a change in leadership, that we perform an audit to ensure that everything's in order and proper procedures and methods were used," Vice Mayor Bill Moody Jr. said.
Jen McCaffery, (757) 446-2627, jen.mccaffery@pilotonline.com
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When?
If you feel that Prentis Park or Lincoln Park are equal to Churchland then move there to get the lower taxes you so desperately seek. You are comparing apples to oranges. 2000 s.f. in Prentis Park is worth 1/3 the value of the same size dwelling in other parts of the city for many reasons the biggest being location. Granted this area is starting to experience revitalization but is a long way from being Churchland, etc.
Rehab exemption
I am in the 6th year of a 10 year exemption on one particular parcel. All papers were filed, and all fees were paid. All requirements were met. No answer from the assessor. I never once had a problem under the previous assessor. Why now??
all i can say is
I've gone through the appeals process several times over the last 30 years with various degrees of success. The former assessor ignored my appeal but Ms. Kattmann took care of the problem. As far as the City paying for lunch for the Board of Equalization. Are you serrious? It doesn't bother you the Mayor spends 14000 on trips and takes his wife with him but let the City buy lunch for 3 people and you think that's a big deal.
Is she certified??
The former assessor is a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser and a Certified Appraisal Evaluator, with 35 years experience. Never been fired.
What are the qualifications of the new lady? Fired from Suffolk for God knows what reasons. Disredgarding the State Code about changing assessments after the Land Book has been certified. Shifting responsibilities that are mandated to the Assessor.
Who is in charge of commercial assessments?? I am entitled to an exemption on numerous properties I have rehabbed, but no one in the Assessor's Office can tell me why I have been billed for the full tax amount without the exemption. The only response I can get is "I don't know. I can't find the files" Something smells funny.
?
Did you file the appropriate documents with the assessor's office? There are certain requirements in timing of filings to qualify for a tax abatement for property rehab. If you did file on time you are due a tax break and if you aren't getting it you should raise this issue with council---it is their responsibility.
sounds like
All your problems are the result of the previous assessor since Ms. Kattmann didn't come on board until July 1st. I don't know about the previous assessors assessments being "stable". My assessments increased 20 to 32 per cent each year over the last 5 years. The ABC has nothing to do with assessments. The total value of the property in a city determines how much money a city can borrow so it makes sense that assessments aren't going to go down even though they should.
It doesn't matter when she came on board, she's here now, and
it's her responsibility. She can't tell me it's somebody else's fault if she's not willing or competent to correct the problem. The previous assessor also came on board on July 1, and she had to correct any errors she detected. And the City paying for her to take the Board of Equalization the lunch???? Why should we pay for that?
If I got it right
the assessor before her only did 3 cycles. The person she replaced did the first one, a company did the second one, she did the remaining 3--2 of which remained stable. I have been told that the State Department of Taxation audits assessments every year for something to do with ABC profits.
Portsmouth has finally done something right
In the hiring of Ms. Kattmann. She will assess the property like it should be unlike her predecessor. Please give her time. She won't be able to undo five years of bogus assessments overnight but I believe the City Manager has made an excellent choice in this particular hire.
you might consider---
The Council, not the City Manager hires the assessor. Council has the authority to fill four positions, Manager, Attorney, Clerk, and Assessor. The Manager is responsible for filling all other upper management such as Police Chief, Planning Director, etc, etc.
The Assessor is directly answerable to council, thereby allowing them to pressure her. Kattman was fired by Suffolk's council because her actions caused council to feel more heat than they could handle.
Let's see what happens when Kattman lowers assessments as she must. Last year the excuse was "not enough sales to properly comp values"; that won't fly this year.