COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — NBC4 Investigates has heard from people all across Franklin County who are struggling to stay in their homes as rising property taxes drive long-time residents away. There is a chance for relief, but residents need to take action. 

NBC4 Investigates got to see how appraisers reassess destroyed and damaged properties, and it gave insight into how mass reappraisal works.  

Every six years, by law, a county will reassess a home’s value. The last one was in 2023 and central Ohio saw a historic increase.

A home is evaluated on improvements, recent sales around it and neighborhood appeal. Owners pay real estate taxes on the assessed value: 35% of the property’s value. The rest of the tax bill comes from levies.  

However, residents can appeal the part that comes from the property’s value.  

On a cold February day, two appraisers showed NBC4 Investigates how properties are assessed. 

“The application mentioned that the property experienced some fire damage,” Deputy Appraisal Director Demarcus Parker said about one property. 

That home in north Columbus is now gone, which means the owners don’t have to pay as much in property taxes  

“If there is a damaged or destroyed property, we strongly encourage those property owners to contact us; Ohio law allows us to update the value,” Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano said. 

The appraisers take a look, make sure the information matches the application and then, in this particular case, remove a big chunk of the overall property value.  

“We want to make sure that that property owner isn’t being charged at a value for the property that they aren’t maximizing, it isn’t getting its highest and best use,” Stinziano said. 

On the opposite side, value can be added when a home is rebuilt.  

“They go out into the field and check on new constructions or any renovations, whatever those permits that were submitted by those municipalities to our office,” Parker said.   

It’s a quick visit, and shows how this process relies in large part on information from the homeowner. 

“The goal of the office is always have a fair and equitable valuation,” Stinziano said.   

It’s the same for the mass reappraisal that resulted in the current property values.

“Property valuation is not property tax, but recognize it is the one place within Ohio law that a part of the formula a property owner can seek adjustments and change,” Stinziano said.   

The auditor’s office said this is where owners can have a say. Take a look at the property on the auditor’s website: do the number of bedrooms match? The bathrooms?  

“We’re really focused on do you feel the valuation is what you would maybe list it if you were going to put it for sale today?” Stinziano said.   

If not, that’s where the Board of Revision comes into play.  

“If you feel it’s too high or too low, that’s who would be the best candidate for a successful board of revision filing,” Stinziano said.  

You can find how to appeal on the auditor’s website, click the board of revision, then filing instructions.  

“Property owners do play an important role, even if there’s not a valuation concern, making sure the information on the property card, the record that the office kind of uses as the foundation for the valuation is accurate if there are changes,” Stinziano said.  

Recent sales and a third-party appraisal are things that will sway the board, which is also made up of the county treasurer and the board of commissioners.  

The auditor’s office has events to help people who want to appeal their property value. There are three more events before the deadline at the end of this month. The BOR is accepting tax year 2024 complaints until March 31, 2025. 

More information about those can be found here and a step-by-step guide to the process can be found here.