By Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

Polk County Commissioners approved lower tax appraisals after appeals were made for properties at Bright’s Creek.

Commissioners met Monday, Sept. 28 and heard the appeal from county attorney Jana Berg.

Berg said the first case is one parcel with the county receiving an offer from the taxpayer that in her opinion was reasonable. She also said the appeal has a minimal fiscal impact to the county and was approved by the county finance office.

The first was for parcel P29-156, lot #137 with a county appraisal of $137,700. The offer accepted by the county was to value the lot at $100,000.

The second adjustment was for parcel P29-387, lot #2026 with a county tax appraisal of $300,000. The offer accepted by the county was to value the lot at  $222,000.

The third case was for four parcels with Berg only recommending one change, relating to Parcel P29-494. It was changed from an original $405,000 tax appraisal to an agreed $322,000 tax appraisal. The other three parcel changes were not adjusted, with one valued at $243,000, another at $378,000 and the third at $189,000.

Berg said as required by N.C. Administrative Rules for the N.C. Department of Revenue Property Tax Commission, she met with the taxpayers in pre-hearing settlement conferences in the three separate appeals. The board of commissioners is required to formally ratify settlements in the three appraisals.

Hearings were scheduled in August before the Property Tax Commission but Berg and the taxpayers negotiated settlement offers in July and the board approved the settlements.

“During the July 20, 2015 closed session, the board approved the taxpayer’s settlement based upon my professional legal opinion that the offer was reasonable, appeared to be supported by independent fee appraisals and should be accepted,” Berg said regarding all three cases.