ALEXANDER COUNTY HEARS PROPERTY ASSESSMENT CLAIMS

CAIRO, Ill. -- Dorothy Mayberry recalls a woman once asked to have her property assessment increased.

The woman came by the office one day and complained her property taxes were too low and that she wasn't paying her fair share of taxes, said Mayberry, Supervisor of Assessments/Board of Review Clerk for Alexander County.

"That has been the only case in 22 years," said Mayberry, who was elected to her post in 1979. "Usually people want to question their real property values and assessments, claiming they are too high."

Alexander County's Board of Review is hearing claims about assessments from property owners.

"We don't have a set period of time for the Board of Review," said Mayberry. "We'll keep the board in session until all claims are heard."

But not many claims have been filed.

Mayberry hears the first complaints of property owners.

"We'll talk to anyone who has a problem," she said. "Sometimes, we can come to an agreement," but if not, the people are given complaint forms to be submitted to the Board of Review. The board will then set an appointment to hear the complaint.

"If you feel your property isn't fairly valued, you have the right to a hearing before the Board," Mayberry said. "The hearing is free and available to all property owners."

Complaint forms are available at the Supervisor of Assessments. In the case of Alexander County, the office is at 2000 Washington St. in Cairo.

The Union County Board of Review will meet for two weeks in January. Complaint forms may be picked up in Union County at 302 W. Market St. in Jonesboro, Ill.

The Pulaski County Board of Review conducted reviews recently.

Once a complaint is filed, a hearing before a three-member board will be set within 10 to 15 days.

The board is comprised of a county board of commissioners representative and two qualified property appraisers.

If a property owner is not satisfied with the board's decision, the decision can be appealed in court by appealing to a property tax board.

"We don't have many complaints," Mayberry said. "A lot of people just want to talk to someone about it."