I-Team: Protesting property taxes

MONSON, Mass. (WWLP) - All homeowners have to pay property taxes, but the I-Team found out if you plan on protesting the value of your home you may be faced with uphill battle.

Last year Anne Sroka's property value jumped by 72 thousand dollars, increasing her taxes by $1,000, so she filed an abatement application.
Anne Sroka' said, “My case was largely based around the valuation of land around here and found that my land was valued more sixty thousand dollars more than everyone else's."

Sroka told the 22News I-Team she did all the necessary due diligence, including hiring an appraiser.

Sroka said, “He came up with a value of $263,000 that was the highest value that was a big difference from $301,009."

Once Anne filed an abatement application an assessor came to her house to value her property. The assessor lowered the value of the land, but increased the house value by that same number, twenty thousand, essentially keeping the tax the same.

The board of assessors denied Sroka's application. She says the process is skewed to maximizing revenue.

Attorney Laura Marino used to work in Springfield's law department. She would represent the city during property tax hearings. She says homeowners do win, but agrees with Sroka the odds are not in her favor.

Attorney Laura Marino said, "This is a major revenue for a city. If they win their neighbor will say what about me?"

Attorney Marino recommends having a realtor do a market analysis on your home, find comparable properties, hire an appraiser and really understand the guidelines used for the assessment.

The Board of Assessors faxed us a statement, saying in part that they felt confident the assessed value was correct.