From the Muncie Star-Press:
Perhaps it was all just a misunderstanding.
Perhaps it was a trial balloon floated by Delaware County’s Progress Rail Services to see whether it could get a break on assessed value and reap tax savings.
No matter how it was resolved, the outcome is a positive one for all sides, a rare win-win situation.
Word came down this week that Progress Rail, a railroad locomotive manufacturer and relative newcomer to Delaware County, wanted to appeal its assessed value.
No problem with that. It’s an industry’s (or property owner’s) right to appeal assessed values.
The sticking point, however, arose when government officials reported the industry had barred tax assessors access to its manufacturing facility. While it can be argued allowing assessors into your place of business (or home) is the epitome of government intrusiveness, it’s also necessary in order to get a fair estimation of the worth of a property. It’s how the system works.
On Wednesday, the company said it was planning to drop plans to get the assessed value reduced from $6.4 million to $1.7 million for the 740,000 square-foot facility. Tax assessors likely will be granted access to the building.
The situation had the potential to pit a valuable and necessary member of the business community against government officials. Hopefully, that fiscal cliff was averted, since the situation appears to be amicably resolved.
We’ll be optimistic and come down on the side of a simple misunderstanding. The bottom line is this. The situation was resolved to the benefit of everyone and we’ll take that win any day.
http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013301040018
