John Marra
Mayor of Timberlake Village
October 21, 2024
A Call for Transparency and Fairness in Lake County Property Reappraisals
By John Marra, Mayor of Timberlake, Ohio
October 21, 2024
The Lake County Auditor’s recent reappraisal process has led to substantial property value increases—averaging nearly 30% across the county, with many homeowners seeing even higher spikes. While property values naturally fluctuate, this rapid increase raises concerns over transparency, fairness, and financial impact on residents.
The reappraisals were conducted by an outside vendor using a method known as “mass appraisal.” This approach meant that no physical inspections were carried out on individual properties. Instead, valuations relied solely on computerized data and sales statistics from surrounding neighborhoods. Additionally, it appears that recent sales in select areas were used to calculate land values by deducting basic building costs, a method that overlooks essential improvement costs. This flawed aspect of the mass appraisal process results in skewed valuations, failing to reflect the true condition or necessary repairs of many properties. As a result, even older homes in need of major repairs are being assigned inflated values.
We’ve identified numerous errors in the data, which become especially obvious when comparing adjacent neighborhoods. For example, Timberlake’s lakefront homes are valued far higher than similar properties in Lakeline and Eastlake. This blanket approach to land valuation serves as a thinly veiled tax hike without voter consent.
Comparing counties across Ohio reveals additional inconsistencies. In Crawford County, where the median income was just $41,000 in 2020, property values saw a 41.35% increase, compared to Lake County’s 28.97% despite Lake’s much higher median income of $77,000. This disparity hints at a larger problem: an unhealthy distortion in property values, partly due to out-of-state investors buying homes at inflated prices. These purchases by Real Estate Investment Trusts (R.E.I.T.s) and similar investors have pushed prices up, only for these properties to be rented out at unaffordable rates. This trend, visible in Timberlake, shows one sale at an unusually high price becoming a “data cancer,” artificially inflating values across neighborhoods.
This artificial inflation benefits large investors and local governments, as it allows them to quietly increase taxes without voter approval. For property owners, this means paying more taxes on “gains” that are unrealized, since most of us aren’t looking to sell but simply to live in our homes. Those with modest incomes, like retirees, may be forced to sell, and some may even end up applying for public housing as tax burdens become unbearable.
Disturbingly, the reappraisal process lacks transparency. When I reached out to the Lake County Auditor’s office to understand my property’s new value, I was directed to a maze of online databases without any meaningful guidance. This is not how government should operate. Public servants should provide clear, accessible information—especially when dealing with property taxes, which directly impact every homeowner’s financial wellbeing.
Furthermore, school funding, which makes up over 60% of property taxes, is a major contributor to rising tax burdens. Currently, property taxes account for over 70% of school funding, while the state contributes less than 20%—yet the state mandates 100% of the regulations. If the state assumed full responsibility for school funding, every property owner would experience significant relief. This shift would prevent local governments from quietly increasing property taxes to cover school budgets without voter input. Schools would be funded fairly and predictably, easing the burden on homeowners and enabling the state to enforce its mandates without opposition.
As residents, we must hold our local government accountable. The current property tax system is the most costly and subjective tax to administer, given the need to accurately appraise thousands of unique properties. The state should also consider reforming property tax legislation to provide full relief with federal support for school funding, thereby easing this heavy burden on homeowners. This change would create a more straightforward and equitable funding process for local needs without placing an undue burden on property owners.
For those who believe their property valuations are unfair, you have the right to challenge them. Utilize the county’s G.I.S. database to examine your property’s assessed value compared to similar properties beyond your immediate neighbors. While the informal review process has closed, residents can still file a formal appeal with the Board of Revision in January.
I urge my fellow residents to demand transparency and fairness from our government. The reappraisal process must be more than just a tool for revenue generation—it should reflect true property values and respect the financial realities of our community.
Categories: Lake County - General, Lake County Politics, Real Estate Taxes, Uncategorized