Homestead increase among top priorities
By PAMELA BRUST, pbrust@newsandsentinel.comPARKERSBURG - A $10,000 increase in the Homestead Exemption is among legislative priorities of the West Virginia Assessors' Association.
While Wood County Assessor Rich Shaffer doesn't agree with all the association's legislative wish list, he does feel an increase in the Homestead Exemption is overdue.
Under the current exemption, the first $20,000 of assessed value is exempt from the single-family, owner-occupied residence of the applicant. The exemption includes mobile or manufactured housing, as long as it is owned and occupied as the applicant's residence. Applicants must occupy their home more than six consecutive months each year and show proof of residency to be eligible. Only one spouse needs to be 65 years of age to receive the exemption. Those who are totally disabled are also eligible for the same exemption. The assessor's office has about 9,057 Homestead Exemptions on file. As proposed by the assessors' association, the exemption would be raised to $30,000.
"The association believes since the current $20,000 exemption has not been adjusted since 1982, and the value of the exemption has failed to keep pace with rising prices caused by inflation and reappraisal requirements. This increase should be adopted without any income-based or cap restrictions," according to a statement from the association.
Shaffer agrees, it's about time the tax break was raised.
"I feel very strongly about this issue. It's past time it be increased. Values on real estate have continued to increase over the years, so this exemption should also increase," Shaffer said.
"There is a lot of support for this, not only from folks who are retired, but those approaching retirement and individuals who have parents who are struggling, the concern covers a wide age range," Shaffer said.
The local assessor said he has no opinion on a proposed county officials' pay raise. The association is supporting the increase.
"I have no opinion on the pay raise. Some of the assessors feel strongly about it. I guess, as the new kid on the block, I don't have any feelings one way or another," he said.
The association has come out against any changes in the administration of the state's Property Valuation Training and Procedures Commission, including its hiring and budget procedures. The association does not want commissioners to have any more authority over the hiring of assessors' valuation fund employees or expenditures from that fund. Currently, the assessor has sole discretion over the expenditures from the valuation fund. Reports are required to be filed with the state PVTP Commission by the assessors.
"There was some discussion of additional constraints through the county commission, giving the commissions more control over the hiring of assessors's employees in the valuation project. I think there is enough regulation on that, there are already safeguards that have to be met," Shaffer said. "There are concerns in other counties, we have an excellent relationship with the commission here. We respect each other and we get along very well," he said.
Shaffer also feels, unlike the association, that there are some exemptions and class changes that should be made, particularly with regard to rental property, which he would like to see brought into the same class as residential property. Currently, rental property is taxed at double the rate of residential property.
"I would also personally like to see personal property eliminated, but I know that will be an uphill battle with the whole state," he said.
Shaffer is serving on a committee that will be working to simplify the form for the Senior Citizens Tax Credit.
"I don't feel they should have to fill out the West Virginia income tax form in order to receive that refund. This is the first year they have had to make out that form," Shaffer said.
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01-20-09 9:11 AM
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Values increased? B*******T! Just keep raping WVs.
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