A routine item on the latest Kernersville Board of Aldermen agenda revealed a noteworthy trend: Property tax refunds are rising sharply across the community, driven by successful property revaluation appeals.
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As part of the consent agenda at the recent meeting, the town board approved more than $38,000 in refunds, which is far above the typical monthly total reported to be in the $200-$300 range.
As Town Manager Curtis Swisher explained during the meeting, the sharp uptick stems from property owners challenging their updated valuations following Forsyth County’s recent revaluation cycle.
“When those values are reduced, it lowers the amount of tax owed,” he said. “If they’ve already paid based on the higher value, we have to refund the difference.”
In some cases, that difference can be significant. Swisher referenced one property initially revalued from about $4.3 million to roughly $4.6 million. After an appeal, the value was reduced by around $500,000, putting it well below the original level and resulting in a sizable refund.
Town officials say they expect the trend to continue in the coming months as more appeals are being processed by the county. Additional effects could be on the horizon in neighboring Guilford County, but local officials expect a much smaller number of claims since fewer Kernersville properties are located within that county’s limits.
For the town, these refunds can have short-term impacts on local finances since municipalities are on the hook to return overpaid taxes. For residents, the trend is a reminder that property values are not always final and a successful appeal can offer meaningful relief.
Click here for more information about the appeals process.
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