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Ohio County Assessor Tiffany Hoffman summed up most residents' feelings over how the West Virginia State Tax Department has botched the new valuation of mineral rights: "I'm just as furious and upset as you all are."
And she has right to be. Assessors statewide are being blamed by taxpayers over West Virginia's new method of valuing mineral rights, and whether the State Tax Department even has the right appraisal set for a property. It doesn't help when the state admits it has botched the process, and now is asking taxpayers to be trusting that it will be fixed.
"And I don't trust the state as much as you do. I'm just being honest," Hoffman said.
Perhaps it would be easier if state officials simply allowed values for this tax year to revert to the prior year's levels instead of risking the reality that there's likely no way the tens of thousands of incorrect mineral rights appraisals will all be fixed. The issue is so wide-ranging that this past week, the Ohio County Board of Equalization and Review, which is tasked with helping property owners ensure their values are accurate, adjourned without being able to hear from 187county residents who requested a hearing. Those folks now must seek relief through the state.
This is unacceptable, and needs fixed now.