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All county properties up for reappraisal
This is a property valuation year for the Franklin County Auditor’s Office, and all property in the county is up for reappraisal. The valuation, which is used to determine the amount of property tax, is done every six years. Work should be completed in late July or early August, Laurie D Ludlum, assistant director in the real estate division of the county auditor’s office said at the March 16 meeting of the Westland Area Commission. When work is completed, every property owner will receive a statement showing the old valuation and the tentative new one, she explained. If property owners have questions, they can go to any of 24 locations in the county to seek answers to the questions. “One will be on the Westside,” she promised. Low-level aerial photography has already photographed much of the 433,000 real estate parcels in the county, Ludlum said. Appraisers will also visit every neighborhood to assess property and get information from the owners. The auditor’s office takes into consideration historic trends and actual sales over the last three years in the neighborhood to determine the fair-market value of properties. Feedback sessions will be offered in numerous communities to allow property owners the opportunity to speak with county representatives about their concerns. Ludlum advised her audience if they need further information about the valuation process, they can find it through the auditor’s website atwww.franklincountyauditor. May elections Also at the monthly meeting, president Linda Pitts handed out petitions to people who are interesting in seeking election to WAC. The commission’s authorized strength is 21 members, 16 of whom are elected and five of whom are appointed. Elections will be held May 7 for four seats, those held by Dorothy Jantzen, Jim Kennedy, Melissa Barth-Kelly and Greg Donovan. Those interested in running for a seat on the commission have to obtain signatures of 20 people who live within the boundaries of the Conrail tracks on the north, I-270 on the east, Big Run on the south, and Hellbranch Creek on the west. People who live, own property or work within those boundaries are eligible to vote in the election. Those interested in a seat on the commission can obtain petitions from Pitts at the Westland Area Library. WAC’s next meeting will be Wednesday evening April 20 at Doctor’s Hospital. A representative from Homes on the Hill will speak.
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