By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The disbursement of property tax statements to Barton County landowners was delayed this year due to information not submitted on time to the Clerk’s Office. Barton County Commission Chair Barb Esfeld, the county’s former appraiser, said there might have been shock once citizens started receiving their statements, not fully understanding their valuation.
"You get your valuation and you look it over," said Esfeld. "If you're not an appraiser, you don't know if that's what your property is worth. Then you get your tax statement and it's 'ouch.' You wonder what to do."
Esfeld said there is still time to appeal your valuation if you have questions or doubts on what the county submitted. Landowners can pay their first half of taxes under protest.
Esfeld added that houses are still selling for high prices.
"Don't kid yourself and think things aren't selling, because they are," said Esfeld. "If you've had to buy a house, they're not cheap. What we used to spend is just not the same anymore. Things are still going up."
Property owners are permitted one valuation appeal per year, so if you appealed it in the spring you cannot appeal it again now.