Assessor disagrees with writers opnion

Recently, a contributor has expressed opinions in Rural Northwest, the Herald, and on a local radio broadcast stating there had been a 10.25 percent decrease in residential property sale prices.

The author suggests that this should have caused a corresponding decrease in assessed values thereby yielding lower tax bills.

Well, her conclusions are incorrect. Lowering everyone’s valuation is unlikely to effectively change anyone’s tax bill. It just causes the rates to go up. Regardless, the problem is that the data she cited represents an invalid comparison and does not relate, in any way, as to how our assessed values actually compare to those sale prices.

That is the critical thing and the fact remains that the majority of the properties that actually are selling, are still selling for more than we have them valued at.

This same author has also complained that I am unwilling to use Multiple Listing Service sales data. That is true because I consider it unethical.

Currently, under Idaho law, disclosure of any real estate sale price is voluntary. We already ask for it on every property ownership transfer. If someone chooses not to respond, it means they wish to keep it private and I respect that.

If I obtain it from MLS and use it anyway, their “private” information now becomes public and I simply won’t do that.

Please do review your notices closely, and as always, feel free to call or come visit me if you have questions, concerns, or just want to know more about how the process works.

We can’t control the market, but we do work hard to accurately report it and hopefully, help you better understand it.

David Ryals

Boundary County

Assessor