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About the Appraisal & Taxation System
While many people think the Property Appraiser determines the amount of taxes each property owner pays, in reality the title "Property Appraiser" explains it all.
The Property Appraiser and his staff are charged with placing a fair and just value on each individual property in Washington County. This is done using various methods to be described below.
The role of setting the amount of taxes to be paid as a result of the appraised value of a property is that of the various taxing authorities, including the County Commission, School Board, local municipalities and others.
These bodies use our appraisals as a base for setting the millage rate. So, in a manner of speaking, your taxes could go up or down, not due to the appraised value but due to millage rates set by the taxing authorities. Your tax bill is computed by the total taxes required of all the authorities.
The value of real estate fluctuates due to many factors. Factors influencing value include property use, the local real estate market. Qualified sales that are closed AFTER January 1st of the current year will be taken into consideration when estimating next year’s market value.
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