Handwritten change appears in county appraisal paperwork
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By Annie Dance | Lake Lure News | Cops & Congress | News & Commentary
McDowell County presses ahead with 2027 property revaluation
Officials say inspections are underway for more than 32,000 parcels despite questions about contract paperwork
MARION, N.C. — Property inspections are underway across McDowell County as officials prepare for the county’s next required property revaluation, a process that will determine updated tax values for more than 32,000 parcels.
County Manager Ashley Wooten said the county has begun field work for the 2027 reappraisal, which North Carolina counties must conduct at least once every eight years to ensure property values reflect current market conditions.
The work involves visiting properties across the county to verify records and assess changes to homes, land and other improvements.
“Right now they’re literally looking at all of those parcels,” Wooten said during an interview on March 10 on WBRM Bigfoot Country 103.9 FM, in Marion. “They’re getting out of the car, doing the visit, and making sure what we have on record matches what’s actually out in the community.”
Officials said the field inspection phase is roughly halfway complete and is expected to continue for about six more months.
After inspections are finished, the process will shift to analyzing property data and determining updated values. Appraisers review recent sales and other market indicators to estimate each property’s fair market value.
“The idea is to have the value in our system match the fair market value of the property as closely as possible,” Wooten said.
Property owners are expected to receive notices of their updated values roughly a year from now and will have opportunities to challenge or appeal their valuations if they believe the estimates are incorrect.
The revaluation work is being carried out by a contractor hired by the county. McDowell County initially selected Pearson’s Appraisal Service, but the company was sold during the contracting process to Vision Government Solutions, Wooten said. VGS is a Massachusetts firm that provides appraisal services for governments across the eastern United States.
Wooten said the ownership change occurred while the contract was being finalized in late 2024 and that the county later updated its paperwork. I did not find any public records, including press releases, to support that claim.
Documents submitted by a listener to my Signal Hill Media colleagues at WBRM show the original company name crossed out by hand on contract paperwork and replaced with the new firm’s name. It is unclear from the records whether the agreement was formally reissued or amended after the change in ownership.
Wooten said the matter was clarified and reviewed. “We’ve made sure everything on record is clean and clear so we can move forward,” he said.
Revaluations can affect how property taxes are calculated, though county leaders note that the process itself does not set tax rates. Tax rates are determined each year separately by the county’s board of commissioners during the budget process.
As the inspections continue, residents may see appraisal staff working in neighborhoods throughout the county. Officials said the visits are intended only to verify property characteristics and collect information needed to complete the appraisal process.
The updated property values are scheduled to take effect for the 2027 tax year, under state law.
Wooten also discussed other items on the agenda. The March 9 McDowell County Commissioners meeting has not been posted to their website as of the morning of March 11. It’s expected to be in the coming days.
