Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Property tax valuations spark senior revolt

Appeals filed on behalf of 863 who answered call to protest

"Vegas Voice" publisher and editor Dan Roberts, right, shakes hands with Clark County Assessor Mark Schofield as he turns in more than 800 appeals of assessed valuation on Tuesday, the last day for submitting challenges of notices of value. Photo by John Locher.

A tax rebellion of the senior kind unfolded Tuesday in the the Clark County assessor's office.

That's where Dan Roberts, publisher and editor of the senior citizen newspaper Vegas Voice, submitted appeals on behalf of 863 individuals who answered his call to protest skyrocketing assessed valuations.

"This is ordinary citizens doing something," Roberts said, after handing over a thick sheaf of forms to County Assessor Mark Schofield. "If this doesn't send a message to Nevada's elected officials, what will?"

Roberts called for a tax revolt in the January edition of the monthly paper and said the response overwhelmed his staff of four. The bulk of the protest participants are from the four area Sun City communities, which cater to mature adults. Their position was repeated on every form, which detailed name, address, parcel number and property value:

"The amount is too high, exorbitant and unfair!"

Roberts, who described his paper as an advocate for senior citizen rights, said the valuations for many of those who agreed to submit appeals went up by 20, 30 or 40 percent in the course of just one year. Those increases will be reflected in the property tax bills that go out in July and are an expense that many on fixed incomes can ill afford, Roberts said.

Schofield, who sounded the alarm last summer on snowballing assessments and is urging a 6 percent cap on annual increases, told Roberts he is sympathetic. Proposed property tax caps or freezes have evolved into a centerpiece issue for the 2005 Legislature. His hope, Schofield told Roberts, is that lawmakers will provide relief.

"There's no question in my mind that the Nevada state Legislature is going to take action on this issue," Schofield said. "The question is, what kind of action are they going to take?"

State Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, said not to expect a decision in the first days of the session. It's going to take weeks for lawmakers to sort through the various proposals and come to an agreement on the best course to take.

"We can't promise a specific remedy," said Coffin, who sits on the state Senate taxation committee. "We can just say we're going to act deliberately."

Schofield said action on a freeze or a cap needs to made by the end of the 120-day session, if this year's property tax bills are to be affected.

The Vegas Voice protest is based on the premise that the assessments exceed the market value of the properties, but Schofield said that's something prohibited by law. And it's the Legislature, not the assessor's office, that determines tax rates and the formula for calculating land values.

Typically, more than 85 percent of appeals are unsuccessful, Schofield said. The assessor's office will now process the complaints, which will eventually lead to a hearing before the Clark County Board of Equalization.

Things might not have to go that far if the Legislature acts soon, Roberts said. He said the 863 individuals who lodged appeals are willing to drop them if the Legislature approves a 6 percent cap.

"If I had one more day to collect appeals, I could have topped 1,000," Roberts said. "People are that angry and that frustrated about this."

Ron Hilford, a Henderson resident, has seen the taxable value of his property increase by 39 percent in six years. That far exceeds the 2 or 3 percent annual cost of living increases most people are awarded in salary or Social Security.

"I signed (the appeal) because of the seniors, not for myself," said Hilford, 57. "I can afford to pay my taxes, but a lot of people can't. It was more of a sympathy vote."

Roberts acknowledged that the appeals might be unsuccessful. But lawmakers would be foolish to ignore the anti-tax sentiment being generated by senior citizens who represent a strong voting block, he said. State senators and Assembly members who oppose tax relief might well find themselves on the losing end of an election, Roberts said.