From: kempcolet <kempcolet@yahoo.com>

Yes, I successfully did [appealed real estate property assessment]two
years ago and plan to this year. A friend told me she appeals every
year. If more people appealed we would keep the values and taxes down.
On the back of your new tax assessment it gives you the link that
explains the process. It's a simple form, but you have to find lower
assessments in your neighborhood for houses similar to yours and send
it in. The deadline is coming up soon so I would do it as soon as
possible. There is a link that on the website that allows you to
search house assessments in your neighborhood.
CK

On or about Monday 2/26, the sections of a large tree were dumped on
our parking space in the alley parallel to 47th St between Verplanck
and Warren. It appears to be a magnolia tree, and each section is 1-2
feet long, weighing 50+ pounds. Does anyone know of work done over the
Feb 24-25 weekend in this area?

(We called 311, who referred us to the 727-1000 call center, who hope
to have someone come look at it in the future....)

Thanks, Rick Dulaney

Re assessment shocker:
We appealed last year¹s second huge increase in our assessment with some
success ‹ DC decreased it by about $35,000. I had hoped for more but didn¹t
have the time and energy to take it to the next level, having spend a great
deal of time on the first phase. I thought it got it down to approximately
what we could sell our home for and the chances for further reconsideration
were slim.

The problem now, of course, is that sales prices have dropped and the
assessments continue to rise. According to the Washington Post, assessments
for AU Park were increased 6.5 percent on average. Our increase this year
amounted to 5 percent, but at this level, 5 percent is a lot of money, and
it once again makes our assessment more than what we could get on the
market.

There is nothing I can say to appeal our assessment that I didn¹t say last
year, and since it¹s an arbitrary raise based on nonexistent increased
value, it¹s hard to mount a battle. The larger question is why there was an
across-the -board increase in the face of across-the-board falling sales
prices. Also, if you look on the city¹s database at the assessments of
neighborhood homes you know, it¹s apparent that the concept of comparable
assessments for comparable homes just isn¹t there.

If you have not appealed before, do so. Hopefully, more people will appeal
if only to call attention to inequities. Just follow the instructions on
your assessment mailing, it tells you what to do. The assessor¹s phone
number is there and will answer questions, he is very pleasant. Be prepared
to spend some time on it. Good luck. --JT

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]