Casa Grande Dispatch
(Editor’s note: Posting opinion pieces is strictly for purposes of discussion.)
As expected, early estimates of Pinal County’s new total assessed valuation show an increase, possibly by 1.75 percent. The total assessed value of property in Pinal leaped from $1 billion in fiscal year 2003 to $3.4 billion in 2008 during a housing boom, then began falling until it reached $2 billion in the year ending June 30.
The change meant not only a loss in taxing power but a personal loss to all those who own property, at least temporarily. Because there is a lag in the assessment process, this year is the first recently for an increase, even though market property values have been rising for a couple of years.
There will be fewer bargains for purchases now, but the change certainly is a healthy sign for the economy.
