State demands assessment data from 71 counties

The Department of Local Government Finance gets a new commissioner and, about 10 days later, 71 counties get letters demanding assessment data. According to an article by Lesley Stedman Weidenbener, the letters threatened to “withhold tax-relief payments, block construction projects and take other action” if the data is not received. First of all, if it’s 71 counties, it sounds like it’s a state problem and not particularly a local problem. Secondly, according to the article, many of the counties appear to think they’re either in compliance or had worked out new deadlines with the State due to having to cope with big changes in the assessment system. County officials appear to be expressing some frustration with the State. But, as they say, it all runs down hill. The Governor gets it from the public. The Governor kicks it down to the DLGF. The DLGF kicks it down to the Counties. Now we’ll just have to see if the Counties can keep it moving. Sooner or later, it’ll probably get back to the public like a big old property tax assessment ouroboros.