Recently, Sun Day has published SunCPAC Q & A’s. The Q & A’s are intended to help Sun City residents better understand the residential property assessment process. But, what is SunCPAC?
SunCPAC [Sun City Property Assessment Council] is a volunteer service providing free residential assessment information gathered, organized, and displayed in a manner to help Sun City residents better understand their home’s assessment.
In 2004, there was a massive reassessment of Sun City homes in Rutland Township. The resulting assessments were felt to be out of line with actual market values. As a result, there was a record number of assessment appeals. This massive set of appeals led to the birth, in 2005, of SunCPAC to provide objective assessment information to help residents in all three of Sun City’s townships.
The key output of SunCPAC are the Model Reports, (found on-line at www.suncpac.org), which provide Sun City residents with an orderly display of assessment information. There are also paper copies of the Model Reports in the Reading Room in Prairie Lodge. The Model Reports show for each Sun City residence the present and recent assessed value as well as the data underlying that valuation. Sorted by township, model, and assessed value, the Model Reports allow for a structured comparison of similar residences to help homeowners decide if an appeal is necessary. The Model Reports are updated each year as the townships release the new assessed values.
However, SunCPAC does not limit its services to the Model Reports. The Council, a small group of volunteers, has developed Neighborhood Presentations to help residents understand the assessment process, how to use Model Reports, and whom to contact if they have issues with their assessment. These Neighborhood Presentations are delivered at Neighborhood Meetings by SunCPAC members. The presentations can be made each year as scheduled by neighborhood chairmen.
SunCPAC provides further information to Sun City residents through its website www.suncpac.org, its monthly news letter [UPDATE], and through on-line correspondence at the Message Forum groups.yahoo.com/group/suncpac/. It continues to submit Q & A’s articles to Sun Day for publication once each month.
The Council itself is a small group of Sun City residents who have volunteered to provide information about property assessments. The Council compiles information in the Model Reports, which it obtains from data published by township and county officials. The Council has no legal authority and does not act as an agent for property owners in matters concerning assessments. SunCPAC remains committed to providing Sun City residents with accurate and timely information in 2011.
Send ideas for Sun Day Q & A questions to suncpac@yahoo.com. Review your property assessment information in the Model Reports at www.suncpac.org.
