SENATE
HOUSE
JOINT
BILL STATUS
STATE LAW
REPORTS
EDUCATIONAL
CONTACT
home
home
Introduced Version Senate Bill 273 History

   |  Email
Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
ole.gif

Senate Bill No. 273

(By Senator Cann)

____________

[Introduced January 8, 2014; referred to the Committee on Government Organization; and then to the Committee on Finance.]

____________

 

 

 

A BILL to amend and reenact §11-3-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to prohibiting increases in the assessed value of real property located in counties where a maximum excess levy is in effect, the property has not changed in tax classification and the increased value is more than two percent over the assessed value of the same property for the previous year.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That §11-3-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 3. ASSESSMENTS GENERALLY.

§11-3-1. Time and basis of assessments; true and actual value; default; reassessment; special assessors; criminal penalty.

    (a) All property, except public service businesses assessed pursuant to article six of this chapter, shall be assessed annually as of July 1 at sixty percent of its true and actual value. that is to say, at Sixty percent of its true and actual value is the price for which the property would sell if voluntarily offered for sale by the owner thereof, upon the terms as the property the value of which is sought to be ascertained, is usually sold and not the price which might be realized if the property were sold at a forced sale.

    (b) Any conflicting provisions of subsection (a) of this section notwithstanding, the true and actual value of all property owned, used and occupied by the owner thereof exclusively for residential purposes shall be arrived at by also giving consideration to the fair and reasonable amount of income which the same might be expected to property might earn under normal conditions in the locality wherein situated, if rented. Provided, That The true and actual value of all farms used, occupied and cultivated by their owners or bona fide tenants shall be arrived at according to the fair and reasonable value of the property for the purpose for which it is actually used regardless of what the value of the property would be if used for some other purpose. and that The true and actual value shall be arrived at by giving consideration to the fair and reasonable income which the same might be expected to farm property might earn under normal conditions in the locality wherein situated, if rented. Provided, however, That nothing herein shall alter Nothing in this section alters the method of assessment of lands or minerals owned by domestic or foreign corporations.

    (c) The taxes upon all property shall be paid by those who are the owners thereof the property owners on the assessment date whether it be assessed to them or others. If the county in which the property is located has an excess levy in effect set at the maximum amount allowed under the provisions of section six-b, article eight of this chapter, there may be no increase in assessed value for real property which has not changed in tax classification and which is more than two percent over the assessed value of the same property for the previous year.

    (d) If at any time If, after the beginning of the assessment year, it be is ascertained by the Tax Commissioner that the an assessor or any of his or her deputies deputy is not complying with this provision or that they have failed, neglected or refused, or is failing, neglecting or refusing after five days' notice, to list and assess all property therein at sixty percent of its true and actual value as determined under this chapter, the Tax Commissioner may order and direct a reassessment of any or all of the all property in any a county, district or municipality where any an assessor or deputy fails, neglects or refuses to assess the property in the manner herein provided in this section. And, For the purpose of making assessment and correction of values, the Tax Commissioner may appoint one or more special assessors, as necessity may require, to make assessment in any a county and any such the special assessor or assessors, as the case may be, has the power and authority now vested by law in assessors. and The work of such the special assessor or assessors shall be accepted and treated for all purposes by the county boards of review and equalization and the levying bodies, subject to any revisions of value on appeal, as the true and lawful assessment of that year as to all property valued by him or her or them. The Tax Commissioner shall fix the compensation of all special assessors appointed which, together with their actual expenses, shall be paid out of the county fund by the county commission of the county in which any such the assessment is ordered, upon the receipt of a certificate of the Tax Commissioner filed with the clerk of the county commission showing the amounts due and to whom payable, after such expenses have been audited by the county commission.

    (e) Any An assessor who knowingly fails, neglects or refuses to assess all the property of his or her county, as herein provided by this section, shall be guilty of malfeasance in office and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500, or imprisoned confined in jail for not less than three nor more than six months, or both, in the discretion of the court, and upon conviction, shall be removed from office.

    (f) For purposes of this chapter and chapter eleven-a of this code, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them in this section unless the context in which the term is used clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended: by the Legislature:

    (1) “Assessment date” means July 1 of the year preceding the tax year.

    (2) “Assessment year” means the twelve-month period that begins on the assessment date.

    (3) “Tax year” or “property tax year” means the next calendar year that begins after the assessment date.

    (4) “Taxpayer” means the owner and any other person in whose name the taxes on the subject property are lawfully assessed.



    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit increases in the assessed value of real property which is located in a county where a maximum excess levy is in effect, the property has not changed in tax classification and the increased value is more than two percent over the assessed value of the same property for the previous year.



    Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.  |  Terms of Use  |   Email WebmasterWebmaster   |   © 2024 West Virginia Legislature **


X

Print On Demand

Name:
Email:
Phone:

Print