Hearings to start for Frederick citizens with property tax assessment disputes

WINCHESTER — Frederick County taxpayers who want to dispute their property tax assessments will be able to make their case before the county’s assessors later this month.

Disputes can include taxpayers who believe there were errors in the assessed acreage of their property or the assessed tax rate.

“If someone has an issue with their reassessment, they can schedule an appointment,” Frederick County Administrator John R. Riley Jr. said Friday. “We assess every two years. In this case, the taxed rate is 58.5 cents (per $100 of assessed value).”

The reassessments are based on the value that county assessors estimate the property is worth according to this year’s assessment, Riley said.

Taxpayers can submit written complaints or speak to the assessors. Following a complaint’s submission, the county will either increase, decrease or affirm the reassessment.

If a taxpayer isn’t satisfied following a hearing, he or she can choose to go before the county’s Board of Equalization to state their case.

Hearings will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Oct. 15 through Nov. 19. There will be no hearings Nov. 12.

To reduce waiting time for a hearing, taxpayers with a dispute should contact the Frederick County Commissioner of the Revenue’s office at 540-722-8319.

Hearings will be held in the County Administration Building at 107 N. Kent St.

— Contact Matt Armstrong atmarmstrong@winchesterstar.com