Dear Incline Village & Crystal Bay Property Taxpayers,

The infamous “Christmas Postcard” from the office of the Washoe County Assessor, about which we previously warned you, was just as staggering a blow as we had anticipated. Many of you have called and emailed us with questions about the enormous increases in the assessment values of your properties.

This is a reappraisal year, (just as was 2003 – which precipitated the tax revolt in the first place). The law mandates that all properties in the state be reappraised at least once every five years. In the years between, the Assessor is supposed to “factor” the values to mirror the ups and downs of the real estate market, to avoid huge unexpected increases to the taxpayers.

Needless to say, when values rise by 100% in just one year, (or much more in many cases), from 2007/08 to 2008/09, the Assessor hasn’t been doing his job. The assessed value of just the land of one of our homeowners increased from $650,000 to $2,500,000!!!

THE GOOD NEWS

As we have previously explained, some of our Board members helped to convince the Nevada Legislature in 2005 to vote to “cap” tax increases to 3% or 8% in some cases.

How does that work? Even though your assessed values have become exorbitant, the property taxes that you will actually have to pay CANNOT exceed 3% more than the actual dollar amount of property taxes that you paid for the prior year. However, we cannot become complacent about that 3% tax cap, which is the current law, as in a different Legislative Session, it could be changed.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO NOW!

Even though we are hoping (and praying) that we will receive a favorable decision from the Nevada Supreme Court after our hugely important hearing on January 7, 2008, we encourage you to send in your Petition for Appeal. The Form can be found on our website www.nevadapropertytaxrevolt.org. Click on Forms in the Menu, scroll to the bottom of the page, download, print, fill out the 6 blanks indicated by the arrows and send a copy with an original signature to:

Josh Wilson
Washoe County Assessor
1001 East Ninth Street
Reno, Nevada 89520

Be sure to keep a copy for your own files!!! You should get back a letter acknowledging the receipt of your Petition from the office of the Assessor. DO NOT THROW THIS AWAY. It is your proof that your document did not get “lost” in the system.

Additionally, on our home page, you can follow the instructions in Alert #150 to request additional information about your property. Fill out that letter as well and send to the Assessor at the above address

PLEASE TRY TO COME

Hopefully, you should have recently received from the Village League, by U.S. mail, a detailed reminder of the hearing before the Supreme Court on January 7, 2008.

The Justices and the media need to know that we are still very much intending to continue this fight against illegal and unconstitutional property taxation.

Once again, our thanks to all of you for your continuing support.

Sincerely,