To the editor:
In 2012, a new Real Estate and Personal Property Tax valuation was (implemented) in Caribou. When I received my personal property tax bill in July of 2012, it had gone up almost four times higher than the year before. I immediately went to the Tax Assessor’s Office to find out why my taxes increased so drastically. I was told that the underground gasoline tanks at my service station were personal property. I thought they were considered to be part of my Real Estate assessment. However, with the new revaluation, I discovered that the tanks were being taxed as personal property, along with the gasoline pumps, the plumbing and electrical wiring! Accordingly, my new personal property assessment was now a whopping $152,760.
I then showed the Tax Assessor a copy (of my receipt from 25 years ago proving that I had only paid $28,275 for the items that were now being assessed at $152,760! To make matters worse, the true taxable value of these tanks and pumps is $8,482.50 due to depreciation! They had made an error in my assessment of 1,800 percent!
Not getting anywhere with the Tax Assessor after trying several times, I appeared before the Board of Assessors. They abated my assessment by a small amount, but it was still very high and inaccurate, so my next step was to appear before the County Commissioners, which I did on March 22, 2013.
Not knowing what to expect, I hired an attorney to assist me. At the meeting, the Commissioners asked the former Tax Assessor, Beth O’Bar if she had a methodology chart for determining valuations of personal property. She said “yes.” They then asked her if they could get a copy of it within 14 days since they had 30 days to render a decision and provide a copy to my attorney. She said that would be no problem. In 14 days, my attorney did not get a copy as we were promised.
On April 5, 2013 the Respondent (city of Caribou) sent the County Commissioners a letter from RJD Appraisal conceding to the applicant’s (my) demands. RJD Appraisal is the firm hired by the city to revalue taxable property. Therefore, my appeal was granted by default.
I then went to the Tax Assessor’s office to let her know that her error cost me $735 for legal fees and I asked her for reimbursement She told me I had to go to the city manager; so I did. In talking with the city manager (Austin Bleese), he told me it was my decision to get an attorney so it was up to me to pay for it. If I had any complaints take it to the Council. I then asked him if he would do it. He said “it’s not up to me, it’s up to you” and refused to do it. Several months went by I did not do anything until I got a letter from the city attorney, Richard Solomon, stating that if I didn’t pay my Personal taxes within 30 days he was going to take me to court. I then went to the City Office again to see if they would take off the lawyer’s fees I spent plus interest, he said “No.” I asked him again to take it to the Council he said “it’s not up to me it’s up to you to take it to the Council”; so I did.
At the meeting, the Council dropped the interest which was $201.29 but would not drop the attorney fees. Then after the Council argued for five minutes about when was I going to pay my taxes they gave me 30 days to pay.
I then asked the new Tax Assessors if there was anything they could do to help me with my issue and found them very pleasant, competent and professional to work with. They arranged for me a second appearance before the Board of Assessors to discuss the problem I had. Knowing I had an appointment with the Board of Assessors and not knowing how long, if any, decisions would be rendered I went back to the Council on May 11, 2015, to ask for a 30-day extension to see if I could resolve this problem with the Assessor. The Council refused my request. Then again, it just goes to show you how this City operates.
So as a business person in this community for over 38 years, I find the city of Caribou a very difficult community to live and do business in. I have had to fight with different departments for most of my career.
I have taken many complaints over the years to the City Council and received very little satisfaction. People are asking why I am wanting to secede; this is one of the many reasons why. Also, for the record, my taxes are paid in full.
On June 11, 2015 at 6 p.m. at the Caribou Performing Arts Center, we will be having a public hearing to explain our many reasons why we need to secede. Write this date and time down and please come to the hearing. You won’t be disappointed.
Milo Haney
Caribou
