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The victory 1,200 Incline Village property owners won to have tax assessments reduced in February may be short-lived.
The Nevada Board of Equalization on Monday could decide to override the Washoe County Board of Equalization's February decision to reduce property taxes for the group's members by 8 percent.
Concern from members of the Village League to Save Incline Assets, a local group protesting its property tax assessments, was voiced as they prepare for Monday's hearing.
"The county board of equalization (in February) did not take away the 8 percent increase," said the league's president Maryanne Ingemanson. "They only reduced the assessment by 8 percent for the 1,200 appellants."
Tom Hall, attorney for the group, filed a motion Aug. 8 to stop the hearing.
"(County assessors and state officials) attempted to use illegally adopted regulations," Hall said explaining why there should be no hearing in the first place.
Village League member Les Barta agreed, and said state and local tax officials have no respect for regulations and rules.
"When we won the hearing at the state board, it was in the face of overwhelming odds," said Barta, board member of the Village League. "The burden of proof is on the assessor's office now."
While Washoe County Assessor Bob McGowen said he sympathizes with the property tax bills many Incline Village residents receive, he said the county assessor's office is not responsible for fixing the 8 percent figure.
"It's not our choice," McGowen said. "The eight-percent (increase) was given to us by the state. All we want to do is do it right. After all, we don't work on commission."
Village League members claim that the assessor's office is acting improperly - not following Nevada statutes. This, Barta explained, has resulted in grossly excessive estimates from the assessor's office.
"Those numbers are outrageous," McGowen agreed. "But that's the market."
Barta went onto explain that any future hearings to overturn the February decision will be fought by the group.
"They have to know we're not going to accept (the hearing)," he said. "When they recognize their errors, we'll stop. We'll take new legal actions until government officials correct their mistakes. We simply seek justice."
Village League members said they will carry on the fight despite the Nevada Legislature's passing Assembly Bill 489 in April - which caps the tax on a Nevada resident's primary residence at 3 percent; 6.9 percent for a secondary home or commercial property in Washoe County.
"We're looking for a much more reliable and more all-encompassing solution than the temporary relief of the 3-percent cap, " Barta said.
McGowen agreed, noting legislators could change the cap as disputes and lawsuits over the new tax laws occur.
"I think they'll try to tweak it," he said.
The Nevada Board of Equalization on Monday could decide to override the Washoe County Board of Equalization's February decision to reduce property taxes for the group's members by 8 percent.
Concern from members of the Village League to Save Incline Assets, a local group protesting its property tax assessments, was voiced as they prepare for Monday's hearing.
"The county board of equalization (in February) did not take away the 8 percent increase," said the league's president Maryanne Ingemanson. "They only reduced the assessment by 8 percent for the 1,200 appellants."
Tom Hall, attorney for the group, filed a motion Aug. 8 to stop the hearing.
"(County assessors and state officials) attempted to use illegally adopted regulations," Hall said explaining why there should be no hearing in the first place.
Village League member Les Barta agreed, and said state and local tax officials have no respect for regulations and rules.
"When we won the hearing at the state board, it was in the face of overwhelming odds," said Barta, board member of the Village League. "The burden of proof is on the assessor's office now."
While Washoe County Assessor Bob McGowen said he sympathizes with the property tax bills many Incline Village residents receive, he said the county assessor's office is not responsible for fixing the 8 percent figure.
"It's not our choice," McGowen said. "The eight-percent (increase) was given to us by the state. All we want to do is do it right. After all, we don't work on commission."
Village League members claim that the assessor's office is acting improperly - not following Nevada statutes. This, Barta explained, has resulted in grossly excessive estimates from the assessor's office.
"Those numbers are outrageous," McGowen agreed. "But that's the market."
Barta went onto explain that any future hearings to overturn the February decision will be fought by the group.
"They have to know we're not going to accept (the hearing)," he said. "When they recognize their errors, we'll stop. We'll take new legal actions until government officials correct their mistakes. We simply seek justice."
Village League members said they will carry on the fight despite the Nevada Legislature's passing Assembly Bill 489 in April - which caps the tax on a Nevada resident's primary residence at 3 percent; 6.9 percent for a secondary home or commercial property in Washoe County.
"We're looking for a much more reliable and more all-encompassing solution than the temporary relief of the 3-percent cap, " Barta said.
McGowen agreed, noting legislators could change the cap as disputes and lawsuits over the new tax laws occur.
"I think they'll try to tweak it," he said.
