Assessing Info 2018 June 21

Disney fights over latest tax bill for its Grand Floridian hotel and spa, other properties >

Disney is contesting its tax bill for 11 properties, including the Grand Floridian Resort, according to three new lawsuits filed in Orange County. It’s not unusual for Disney to turn to the courts to dispute the value of its properties. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts took similar action last year, filing multiple lawsuits over the 2016 tax year.

San Mateo County gets
a win in battle with big
bio-tech company >

San Mateo County officials engaged in a yearslong dispute with Genentech over property tax assessments are celebrating what they call a victory after a Superior Court judge affirmed the Assessor’s Office’s valuation of the biotech giant’s machinery and equipment in a decision rendered last month. Read more

How estate valuers can boost Nigeria's economy >

The name Estate Surveyor and Valuer is more or less a matter of idiosyncrasy. The counterparts of the estate surveyors and valuers in other countries are known and referred to by other different names. In the United States of America, they are called “Appraisers”, in the United Kingdom, they are called “Chattered Surveyors” meanwhile in other nations, they are called “Valuers or Estate Valuers.” Read more

IAAO NEWS

+ June 27th Webinar on NACo's County Explorer Tool >

The NACo's Counties Futures Lab in partnership with IAAO will present an interactive and detailed webinar on Wednesday, June 27 focusing on how to use three features on the County Explorer Tool. This session is a follow-up webinar to the May 23rd session and is no charge for members and $45 for nonmembers. Read more

+ Women's Initiative Luncheon >

Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Anne McKeig will be the keynote speaker at the Women’s Initiative Luncheon at 11:30 am on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the IAAO Annual Conference in Minneapolis. Tickets for the luncheon are $25 and can be purchased during registration or by contacting Rachel Mense at IAAO. Early-bird registration deadline is July 20. Register online

+ Revised Amended & Restated Articles of Incorporation exposed for comment >

The IAAO Governance Committee has completed reviewing and revising the first group of IAAO governing documents, and the new Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation for the organization have been exposed for comment. Members may download the draft version of the document. Comments on the revisions should be sent to comments@iaao.org by July 12. Read more

+ Check out the IAAO Course Calendar Map! >

A list of upcoming IAAO Courses is available online through the IAAO Course Calendar map. Locations of scheduled courses are highlighted on the map and visitors can click on dots to find which courses offered at the location or can use the table below the map. Check out the map!

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

+ Texas property tax exemption restored for Arkansas politician/evangelist >

In an update to a previous Assessing Info item, the Rev. Randy Caldwell, an Arkansas Republican who lost in a primary Senate race last May, has regained tax-exempt status for a house his ministry owns in Galveston County, Texas. An independent appraisal review board reversed the decision of the Galveston Central Appraisal District, saying Caldwell's 4,405-square foot house should be classified as a "clergy residence." His Texas house was appraised at $403,480. Read more

+ How Ontario can avoid becoming a province of dead malls >

Suburban shopping centers are struggling to compete with online sales and big-box stores. But these strategies could give them new life. Read more

+ Scottish Finance Secretary mulls property tax U-turn >

The Scottish Government has said it is willing to consider reforms to new controversial property taxes that have been blamed for stagnating property sales. Read more

+ Texas bill would freeze property taxes of longtime homeowners >

When you hear the word "gentrification," you may think home improvement or neighborhood revitalization, but some fear it will also mean higher property taxes and displacement of longtime residents. Read more