Sullivan County homeowners see higher property appraisals

Property owners across Sullivan County received updated appraisal notices this week, part of the county's state-mandated reappraisal process that occurs every four years.Some owners reported that their values increased sharply, and in some cases even doubling. Sullivan County Property Assessor Donna Whitaker said the drastic changes reflect the increases in market values."This is a reappraisal year, and it's based on what the market's done in the last three years," said Sullivan County Property Assessor Donna Whitaker. "We're catching up."Whitaker said property assessments are driven by current market conditions and prior-year home sales, with no changes made since the last reappraisal in 2021. While some residents may attribute rising values to newcomers moving into the area, Whitaker said that's only part of the story."What we've seen is that properties being bought have had inflated sales prices — more than what our market was used to," she said. "So now we are catching up to that."The reappraisal process is required by Tennessee Code Annotated 67-5-1601, which mandates periodic updates to reflect fair market value. The goal, Whitaker explained, is to correct disparities that build over time and ensure tax equity among property owners."These notices are not bills — just notifications that your assessment has changed based on current sales data, as required by law," she said. "We want every citizen to fully understand the process."Though some property owners have reported significant jumps in their appraised values, Whitaker declined to provide an average countywide increase.The assessor's office calculates market value using recent sales data from all real estate transactions in Sullivan County, considering factors that affect property values within specific neighborhoods. The best indicator, Whitaker said, is "qualified" sales from the prior year — meaning transactions between willing buyers and sellers.What happens nextWhitaker said that Sullivan County cannot generate additional revenue from reappraisals. A certified tax rate will be set to make sure total tax revenue is the same as last year's.For example, if assessments increase by 10% countywide, the certified tax rate must decrease by 10% to offset the change. The certified rate is expected to be finalized in May and brought before the Sullivan County Commission for adoption."Even under the certified rate, some people may still pay more, and some less, depending on whether their property value rose above or below the county average," Whitaker said. "But the difference is usually small."Currently, the county tax rate is $2.4962 per $100 of assessed value. Property taxes are only levied on 25% of a property's appraised value, so a home appraised at $400,000 would be taxed based on $100,000 of assessed value.Property owners can appealProperty owners concerned about their assessments can contact the assessor's office to schedule a review. Whitaker said her staff is offering 15-minute appointments to go over records and make corrections if necessary."We're already getting a lot of calls, and we're making appointments to help people understand their property records and ensure everything is accurate," she said.While some residents have expressed concern that rising assessments may affect their mortgage payments, Whitaker said it's too early for lenders to make changes based on the new appraisals."The new tax bills won't be due until February of next year," she said. "If people see a significant change after the new tax rate is finalized, then it might be worth checking with their mortgage company."Sullivan County is also seeking approval from the state to move to a two-year reappraisal cycle, which Whitaker said would help the county stay more closely aligned with ongoing market changes. If approved, the next round of valuation notices would go out in 2027 instead of 2029."The market is what drives the value," she said. "We just make sure the property records are correct, and then the sales data determines the value."For more information or to schedule an appointment, residents can call the assessor's office at (423) 323-6455.