Why does the Haines Borough instruct property owners to invest time and money into obtaining an appraisal if the Board of Equalization (BOE) is not considering it as the evidence of fair and true market value?
Page four of the Haines Borough Real Property Assessment Appeal Form states under a heading called “Helpful Hints” that appellants should “include a written appraisal, market data letter, or opinion of value from a licensed realtor or appraiser” as part of their appeal. You read that correctly — the borough’s appeal form advises every property owner to hire an appraiser or obtain an opinion of value from a licensed realtor. The 2023 appeal form instructions have a notation on the bottom of “3/24/2023 DML” indicating the government recently reviewed and revised the form. This document is available online on the borough website https://www.hainesalaska.gov/forms.
Despite this fact, Mayor Olerud and BOE member Debra Schnabel both rejected appraisals and real estate professional opinions as valid ways to determine property value. Haines Borough needs to follow their own instructions when it comes to property tax assessments.