HILLSBOROUGH: 143 tax appeals filed

Assessor considers the number low

   County tax officials said Tuesday that 143 township property owners filed appeals of their tax assessments by Monday’s deadline.
   Tax Assessor Debra Blaney said she considered the number low, considering there are more than 12,500 residential lines and more than 15,000 total.
   She said her colleagues tell her that it’s not unusual, following a complete revaluation, to see 5 percent of property owners appeal, so 143 would be just a fraction of that.
   In 2011 property assessments were revalued township-wide for the first time since 1982. Average home assessments rose about 40 to 45 percent, said township officials.
   ’Ms. Blaney credited her three-person staff for taking the time to explain to property owners how assessments work in relation to the real estate market.
   ”They put in a lot of time with each person,” she said, “even an hour on the phone or in the office.”