Site search
sponsored by
News
ENLARGE
Incline Village business woman, Ina Haupt, turned in a letter of resignation early this week to the Washoe County Board of Equalization, leaving the community without representation on the tax review board.
She cited in her letter "personal reasons" for not wanting to continue to serve on the board.
Haupt, owner of Premier Properties, said Saturday she has business to attend to and it appeared that her duties on the board were going to be taking a lot of time. She also was concerned about the effectiveness of the Washoe County Board of Equalization.
"The board can do very little," she said.
Haupt stated last week that she discovered after joining the board that it doesn't have the authority to tell the Washoe County Assessor's office what it can or cannot do.
Property tax issues have been at the forefront of the community for more than a year as the Village League to Save Incline Assets has been working to ensure fair property tax appraisals.
Ted Harris, a member of the league, said representation is important for Incline. In the past, the board of equalization has been dominated by people who have been a part of the assessor's office, Harris said. The League had hoped that with local representation and new members there would be a more fair process. However, despite Haupt's departure, Harris believes that there will be applicants from Incline for the vacant position.
The Washoe County Board of Commissioners will select a candidate to take her place as soon as possible, after giving legal notice of the vacated seat on the board.
She cited in her letter "personal reasons" for not wanting to continue to serve on the board.
Haupt, owner of Premier Properties, said Saturday she has business to attend to and it appeared that her duties on the board were going to be taking a lot of time. She also was concerned about the effectiveness of the Washoe County Board of Equalization.
"The board can do very little," she said.
Haupt stated last week that she discovered after joining the board that it doesn't have the authority to tell the Washoe County Assessor's office what it can or cannot do.
Property tax issues have been at the forefront of the community for more than a year as the Village League to Save Incline Assets has been working to ensure fair property tax appraisals.
Ted Harris, a member of the league, said representation is important for Incline. In the past, the board of equalization has been dominated by people who have been a part of the assessor's office, Harris said. The League had hoped that with local representation and new members there would be a more fair process. However, despite Haupt's departure, Harris believes that there will be applicants from Incline for the vacant position.
The Washoe County Board of Commissioners will select a candidate to take her place as soon as possible, after giving legal notice of the vacated seat on the board.
Chair of the Washoe County Board of Equalization, Steven Sparks, said the board plays an important role for taxpayers. Without the board, people wouldn't have an agency to review their tax complaints nor would the assessor's office have an agency to hear their cases.
"It's a part of our county process," Sparks said. "It lets the petitioner know what's going on and acts as an agency of appeal."
He called the board a "quasi-administrative review board" whose major raison d'etre is to hear appeals by property taxpayers.
"We determine through the motion process whether we agree with the petitioner, or the assessor, or on some middle ground," he said.
The Board of Equalization reviews testimony from petitioners and the county assessor, judging the validity of exhibits from both sides to determine fair, or equal, tax value on property.
"We are not an education arm and we have no sway over the assessor's office," Sparks said. "The assessor is elected by the people and we cannot tell the assessor to do anything."
Sparks said he is proud of the way the board has reviewed cases in the past few years, recommending value "with cause" more stringently than in the past. "It is not arbitrary," he said.
In the past two years, the board has seen a marked increase of petitioners, Sparks said.
"It's a part of our county process," Sparks said. "It lets the petitioner know what's going on and acts as an agency of appeal."
He called the board a "quasi-administrative review board" whose major raison d'etre is to hear appeals by property taxpayers.
"We determine through the motion process whether we agree with the petitioner, or the assessor, or on some middle ground," he said.
The Board of Equalization reviews testimony from petitioners and the county assessor, judging the validity of exhibits from both sides to determine fair, or equal, tax value on property.
"We are not an education arm and we have no sway over the assessor's office," Sparks said. "The assessor is elected by the people and we cannot tell the assessor to do anything."
Sparks said he is proud of the way the board has reviewed cases in the past few years, recommending value "with cause" more stringently than in the past. "It is not arbitrary," he said.
In the past two years, the board has seen a marked increase of petitioners, Sparks said.
"We used to get between 300 and 400 appeals," he said. "Two years ago, we heard 1,000 petitioners and last year, 1,473." All of this is mandated by law to occur between Jan. 15 and the end of February."
With another legislative session coming up, Sparks said lawmakers will be considering a cap on the rate taxes can rise. Otherwise, they may have to look at extending taxpayers' review period.
Members of the Board of Equalization are appointed by county commissioners, and are paid a $40 per diem stipend.
working to ensure fair property tax appraisals.
Ted Harris, a member of the League, said representation is important for Incline. In the past, the board of equalization has been dominated by people who have been a part of the assessor's office, Harris said. The League had hoped that with local representation and new members the process would be more fair. However, despite Haupt's departure, Harris believes that there will be applicants from Incline for the vacant position.
The Washoe County Board of Commissioners will select a candidate to take her place as soon as possible, after giving legal notice of the vacated seat on the board.
Chair of the Washoe County Board of Equalization, Steven Sparks, said the board plays an important role for taxpayers. Without the board, people wouldn't have an agency to review their tax complaints nor would the assessor's office have an agency to hear their cases.
"It's a part of our county process," Sparks said. "It lets the petitioner know what's going on and acts as an agency of appeal."
With another legislative session coming up, Sparks said lawmakers will be considering a cap on the rate taxes can rise. Otherwise, they may have to look at extending taxpayers' review period.
Members of the Board of Equalization are appointed by county commissioners, and are paid a $40 per diem stipend.
working to ensure fair property tax appraisals.
Ted Harris, a member of the League, said representation is important for Incline. In the past, the board of equalization has been dominated by people who have been a part of the assessor's office, Harris said. The League had hoped that with local representation and new members the process would be more fair. However, despite Haupt's departure, Harris believes that there will be applicants from Incline for the vacant position.
The Washoe County Board of Commissioners will select a candidate to take her place as soon as possible, after giving legal notice of the vacated seat on the board.
Chair of the Washoe County Board of Equalization, Steven Sparks, said the board plays an important role for taxpayers. Without the board, people wouldn't have an agency to review their tax complaints nor would the assessor's office have an agency to hear their cases.
"It's a part of our county process," Sparks said. "It lets the petitioner know what's going on and acts as an agency of appeal."
He called the board a "quasi-administrative review board" whose major raison d'etre is to hear appeals by property taxpayers.
"We determine through the motion process whether we agree with the petitioner, or the assessor, or on some middle ground," he said.
The Board of Equalization reviews testimony from petitioners and the county assessor, judging the validity of exhibits from both sides to determine fair, or equal, tax value on property.
"We are not an education arm and we have no sway over the assessor's office," Sparks said. "The assessor is elected by the people and we cannot tell the assessor to do anything."
Sparks said he is proud of the way the board has reviewed cases in the past few years, recommending value "with cause" more stringently than in the past. "It is not arbitrary," he said.
In the past two years, the board has seen a marked increase of petitioners, Sparks said.
"We used to get between 300 and 400 appeals," he said. "Two years ago, we heard 1,000 petitioners and last year, 1,473." All of this is mandated by law to occur between Jan. 15 and the end of February."
With another legislative session coming up, Sparks said lawmakers will be considering a cap on the rate taxes can rise. Otherwise, they may have to look at extending taxpayers' review period.
Members of the Board of Equalization are appointed by county commissioners, and are paid a $40 per diem stipend.
"We determine through the motion process whether we agree with the petitioner, or the assessor, or on some middle ground," he said.
The Board of Equalization reviews testimony from petitioners and the county assessor, judging the validity of exhibits from both sides to determine fair, or equal, tax value on property.
"We are not an education arm and we have no sway over the assessor's office," Sparks said. "The assessor is elected by the people and we cannot tell the assessor to do anything."
Sparks said he is proud of the way the board has reviewed cases in the past few years, recommending value "with cause" more stringently than in the past. "It is not arbitrary," he said.
In the past two years, the board has seen a marked increase of petitioners, Sparks said.
"We used to get between 300 and 400 appeals," he said. "Two years ago, we heard 1,000 petitioners and last year, 1,473." All of this is mandated by law to occur between Jan. 15 and the end of February."
With another legislative session coming up, Sparks said lawmakers will be considering a cap on the rate taxes can rise. Otherwise, they may have to look at extending taxpayers' review period.
Members of the Board of Equalization are appointed by county commissioners, and are paid a $40 per diem stipend.
