By Susan Redden

sredden@joplinglobe.com

Floyd and Henrietta Prock don’t understand why the appraised value of their Joplin home has increased by 23 percent.

Ron Brewer is even more befuddled by the 16-percent jump for his Carl Junction home.

But reports of such tax-appraisal gyrations have not been uncommon, especially in recent years in Jasper County.

Property reassessment has just been completed this year in Missouri, and despite a national economic downturn with home values at its core, Jasper County property owners, once again, are lining up to protest to the county’s Board of Equalization.

More than 140 appointments have been made thus far for the board, which hears appeals when property owners aren’t satisfied with values set in reassessment. The Jasper County panel will meet, starting at 9:30 a.m. today, and sessions to date are scheduled through July 17.

In Jasper County, notices of higher values were sent on 7,835 properties, which is just more than 13 percent of the approximately 59,400 parcels in the county.

Comparison

In contrast, notices of higher values were mailed to 1,567 properties in Newton County, just more than 5 percent of the county’s approximately 29,300 total parcels.

The sessions begin a week later in Newton County, and 13 appeals are scheduled, according to the county clerk’s office, where the appointments are made.

Lisa Perry, administrative assistant to Jasper County Assessor Don Davis, said last week that many changes already have been made as a result of informal meetings between property owners and the assessor’s office.

“We’re working to get all the letters out to tell people what’s (reductions in appraisals) been done,” she said. “I hope people will wait until they get our letters before they decide if they’re going to appeal to the board. I’ve seen some signed up, and I know they haven’t gotten the changes.”

Perry answered reassessment questions in the absence of Davis, who was on vacation last week. Davis did not seek re-election last year; his term ends Sept. 1, when he will be succeeded by Connie Alumbaugh-Hoover.

Individual cases