Susette Taylor, Atchison County Clerk & Secretary to the Board of Equalization, has announced that the Board of Equalization will meet at 9:30 a.m. on July 21, 2025. Hearings will take place at the Atchison County Courthouse in the Commission Room. The appeal process is to hear those who disagree with the values of real estate and personal property established by the Atchison County Assessor Rochelle Long for tax year 2025.

The board tentatively plans to conclude the hearings on July 22, 2025. According to the assessor, the 2025 assessments were established, notices were sent to owners whose real property increased in value, and as the law requires, the assessment books have been turned over to County Clerk, Susette Taylor. The next step in the property tax process is a review of assessments by the County Board of Equalization followed by setting levy rates by the political subdivisions.

The following is the notice that went out to landowners from Assessor Rochelle Long in mid-June:

Dear Property Owner, (This is lengthy, but please read) Roughly 3,000 real estate value changes are hitting the mailboxes of Atchison County property owners. This is a statutory requirement (MO 137.115) that I now have very little control over.

This year, the Missouri State Tax Commission took it upon themselves to remove the pen from my hand. Several months ago, I received a flow chart from STC with an order to raise our real estate value by 15% in the aggregate. I have included the flow chart for your reference along with the memorandum of understanding. I refused the initial order and after months of back and forth, I was forced to settle on an increase of 13%. While this isn’t a significant difference, I fought to keep what little amount that I could from increasing.

The real estate market has substantially increased in recent years, and we are bound by statutes to keep up with that market value. However, I wholeheartedly disagree with how the State Tax Commission is forcing us to indiscriminately raise everyone’s values. Unfortunately, without the right kind of pressure on our legislators, there is little difference that I can make as to how the State Tax Commission governs. (They are appointed by the Governor).

Ultimately, as your assessor I am responsible for the increase in your real estate values, but there are caveats that are attached to it. I believe you as taxpayers deserve the bigger picture. So, as you are receiving this notice of increase, just know that I had very little say in how this increase was implemented.

Note: While your real estate value has increased, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will see the same dollar increase in your bill. Taxing jurisdictions (i.e. School Districts, Fire Protection, etc.) are responsible for the appropriate levy rollbacks per the Hancock Amendment. Please take a moment to review your notice(s) and consider whether the assessed value accurately reflects the fair market value of your home. As stated at the bottom of your notice, if you wish to appeal your assessment, you must schedule an appointment with the County Clerk’s Office before July 14, 2025, to appear before the Board of Equalization.

However, you will need to contact my office first for an informal hearing. If you have a recent fee appraisal and/or you truly believe the valuation is incorrect, feel free to contact me to discuss your concerns. Please keep in mind that appearing before the Board of Equalization requires you to provide supporting evidence to substantiate your claim regarding the property’s valuation. Notices are sent ONLY on real estate property that has had an increase in value from the 2024 assessment year. Any ‘NEW CONSTRUCTION’ on your property will result in a change of value to reflect the improvements made.

I want to thank you for electing me as your assessor and I hope this message helps to better explain these increases. I know many of you will have questions. As always, my office is open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Our phone number is 660-744-6214 ext. 1100. Please note that our office has a single phone line; if the line is busy, we appreciate your patience as all calls will be answered in turn. To avoid delays, we kindly ask that you do not contact other courthouse offices to request a callback, as this may result in additional delays.

If you would like to escalate your concerns, I would encourage you to reach out to your local state representatives and senators. Or if you’d like, the website, numbers, and email addresses for the Missouri State Tax Commissioners are below. https://stc.mo.gov/ Gary Romine, Chairman gary.romine@stc.mo.gov 573-751-1704 Debbi McGinnis, Commissioner debbi.mcginnis@stc.mo.gov 573-751-3471 Greg Razer, Commissioner greg.razer@stc.mo.gov 573-751-1703

Sincerely, Rochelle Long Atchison County Assessor

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Property owners who wish to appeal their assessments must file an appeal by July 14, 2025, RSMo 137.275, by calling 660-744-6214 Ext 3 to schedule an appointment and request an appeal form after speaking with Assessor Rochelle Long.

Property owners appearing before the board should be prepared to present evidence to establish what they believe to be a correct value for their property. If, after a decision of the board, the property owner is still dissatisfied with the assessment, the appeal may be lodged with the State Tax Commission.