Madison County property owners — an estimated 1,503, to date — have lined up at the county reappraisal office this week to question increases on their new appraisals.

Officials could not say how many of those appraisals have been readjusted. But John Allegrezza is among several property owners who found investing the time — in some cases a three- to four-hour wait — was worthwhile.

Allegrezza, who went to the reappraisal office Tuesday, owns seven properties in Madison County. The new appraisal value of Allegrezza's combined properties — appraised in 2001 at $870,720 — went from just over $1.5 million back down to just over $1.2 million.

His case should serve as an example of why property owners should question their new reappraisal values, Allegrezza said.

Madison County property owners will have at least another week to do just that with the company the Board of Supervisors hired to reappraise the county. Property owners originally had until today to speak to representatives of Herring Appraisal and Computer Inc., which was hired to reappraise the county in December 2000 at a cost of more than $900,000.

Madison County Public Information Officer Kem Wilbanks said the deadline was extended to give every property owner a chance to question the new values. And it could be extended further if necessary, he said.

"As long as there are people who want to protest their values, the reappraisal office will stay open," Wilbanks said.

He said property owners also can call (601) 855-5539 or (601) 859-1177 to make an appointment to discuss their reappraisals.

Several of Allegrezza's properties are rented to small business owners, such as Kenneth Johnson, who operates The Shoe Healer, located on U.S. 51 in Ridgeland.

Without the adjustment he negotiated — from a 47 to a 16 percent increase — Allegrezza said he would have been forced to raise Johnson's rent to cover the possible increase in property taxes.

"I would hate for him to have to raise our rent," said Johnson, who has operated his business at his current location for the past 11 years.

"It would force us to have to raise our prices and we don't want to do that. It would have made a big impact on us."

Allegrezza said the property he rents to Johnson was appraised at $417,730 in 2001.

When Allegrezza received his reappraisal notice in the mail, however, he was shocked to see the property's value had jumped to $613,980.

Allegrezza was able to get the appraisal adjusted down to $483,760.

Many property owners have come to the reappraisal office because they were upset about how high their property values had been raised.

Property owners are worried that higher property values will lead to higher property taxes.

The Board of Supervisors has pledged to lower the county millage rate to try and offset the higher property values, but the cities in the county and the county's two school districts have not made such a pledge.

Changes to homestead exemption qualifications may also serve as some relief to possible tax increases.

However, owners who view their land as an investment or are looking to sell could benefit from the new, higher appraisals.

Any property owner who is unable to meet with Herring at the county reappraisal office still will have the opportunity to make a formal protest of a reappraisal with the Madison County Board of Supervisors up until the new tax rolls are closed, which could be as early as Aug. 5.

Madison County Tax Assessor Gerald Barber said property owners should make their protests with the board before they close the county tax rolls. Even if that deadline is missed, however, he said individuals may still appeal reappraisals if an error was made in the assessment.

Clarion Ledger

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2002