How To Manage, Maybe Even Reduce Your Property Tax Values
Pima County Assessors have sent homeowners their 2015 Residential Notice of Value for 2015. Property taxes will be based on the limited value. An insert sent with the notice says that this value can not be appealed.
On the surface, you might think that you can not do anything about your property tax valuation; but you can!
"The limited property value of property for property taxation purposes is the limited property value of the property in the preceding valuation year plus five per cent of that value" (Source)
So, yes, for any one year you have not control.
However...
Pay attention to the total full cash value because: "The current limited property value of a parcel of property shall not exceed its current full cash value." So, you would want the full cash value to never grow more than 5% annually.
In 2014, total full cash value and limited value were set to be the same.
In 2015, however, we were not surprised to find that the county increased the full cash value 3 percentage points greater than the 5% statutory increase in the limited value. This gives them leeway to always collect based on the limited value, since it will never be less than the full cash value. At this rate of difference, the limited value will never be less than the full cash value.
So, appealing the full cash value matters to you. You goal should be to reduce the full cash value to less than the limited value or, as minimum, to keep an increase in the full cash value at 5% or less.
Visit the assessors site for the appeal forms. The appeal deadline is April 1.
Also, if you are over 65, you may be eligible for a 3-year freeze on the limited cash value of your property. Learn more here.
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Oro Valley Police Warn:" Beware of Computer-Based Fraud
The Oro Valley Police Department (#orovalleypd) sent out two "tweets" this week regarding internet-based fraud. "Oro Valley residents warned of online rental scam" linked to a TV7 report about a scam on the website "Zillow." The site advertised a rental unit. The prospective renter sent in a deposit. The rental was bogus. (source). The other was a Facebook scam in which an individual sent money to a "friend" to pay taxes on supposed lottery winnings. Of course, there was no lottery winnings. (source)
The adage: "If it seems to good to be true, it probably is" applies to both of these situations.
Beware, readers, the internet is a dangerous place.
Thanks to The Oro Valley Police Department for reminding us of this.
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Big Doin's At Steam Pump Tomorrow
" The...Second Saturday at Steam Pump Ranch will feature a blacksmith demonstration, Heritage Garden demonstration, and guest speaker Brenda Marjaneimi, author of An Extended Stay, the story of one woman's struggle with Parkinson's disease, as lovingly told by her daughter. Following the morning's activities, live music will be provided by Reno Del Mar. Second Saturdays at Steam Pump Ranch are held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. (Source: Oro Valley Press Release)
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COXCO No More
Plans have been filed by SSBL Architects to build a 3,600 sf retail building in that spot. The site is bit odd. It is small, less than 1/2 acre and significantly higher in elevation that abutting properties. "The architecture at this intersection can best be described as eclectic," notes architect Sayler-Brown in the architectural design narrative he filed with the town.
The Oro Valley Conceptual Design Review Board will review the conceptual plans for this site at this Tuesday's meeting.
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Basis Primary School Plans Unveiled
BASIS has filed information with the Oro Valley Conceptual Design Review Board regarding its plans for a 48,000 sf, 2-storybuilding next to the existing BASIS school on Oracle Road. 36' will be the maximum height. The new building will provide education for grades K-6.
BASIS notes in the information filed that it is not required by state law to abide by the standard Oro Valley development review process. "The applicant has agreed to submit the Conceptual Architecture for a "courtesy" review by the Conceptual Design Review Board and Town Council." Town staff has determined that the proposed design in in conformance with Oro Valley's design principles and standards.
The Oro Valley Conceptual Design Review Board will review this project at Tuesday's meeting.
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Town Has Done No Study To Determine On-Site Clinic Feasibility?
Last month we reported that the Town Of Oro Valley had held a bidder's conference regarding creating a full-time, onsite wellness clinic for its employees. The town was exploring having a clinic that includes Golder Ranch Fire District ("GFRD'") employees. We submitted an information request asking for studies that discussed what was being planned. The town responded by providing us emails between town manager Caton and the fire chief of GFRD. We conclude from this that the town has performed no study of the feasibility of this concept; or determined any justification for creating this facility since it did not provide such to us in response to our information request.
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2 comments:
Health Insurance
The risk of health insurance companies obtaining profits is great. Insurers set high premiums for health coverage for the employer (Town of Oro Valley) and their employees. The insurers expect to make a profit. If the frequency and volume of health claims of the employees exceed the premiums collected from the employer It may result in losses for the insurer. The insurer will raise premiums on the employer (Town of Oro Valley). The extra money for raised premiums would have to come from the general fund (tax revenue) potentially causing budget shortages. To solve this potential shortfall problem the Town of Oro Valley decided to
try a Self-Funded Health Insurance Program.
Self-Funded Health Insurance
When a government entity (like the Town of Oro Valley) creates a self-funded health insurance program it is betting that it will be able to control the difference between the money set aside from the general fund (tax revenue) and claims (expenses) actually submitted by employees. On the surface the potential reduction in expenses sounds good.
What is an employee wellness program?
An employee wellness program, also called a “worksite wellness program”, is a program that promotes and supports the health, safety, and well-being of its employees.
The Wellness Clinic is a way for the Town of Oro Valley to try to prevent or reduce future frequent health claims. However, a Wellness Clinic means you are spending more money to try and reduce claims. This may never happen because there is no incentive for an employee to cease bad habits like smoking, obesity,etc.
It is argumentative that any savings may occur!
It appears that the Town of Oro Valley has chosen to place a “request for
proposal” (RFP) for a vendor to create a “Wellness Clinic”. This RFP # 14032 seemed to appear out of thin air!
Most self-funded approaches have someone that has the fiduciary responsibility for the self-insurance program. Many government entities create an advisory board of citizens to perform that function.
Who is serving as the advisor for the Town of Oro Valley? Did they decide to create a Wellness Clinic? Was the Council aware of this?
John Musolf
Thanks for the explanation, John.
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