Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen M. Scalise CPA, CFE announced today she would offer real estate tax relief to property owners throughout Summit County who sustained storm damage to their property in the wake of the July storms. Ms. Scalise’s office is taking the necessary steps to provide property owners the ability to file an “Application for Valuation Deduction for Destroyed or Damaged Real Property”, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code §319.38 with her office.
Applications can be obtained by calling our office at 330-643-2710, e-mailing our office at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by visiting Damaged Property. Download the application 'DTE 26' and mail the completed form to the Fiscal Office at 175 S. Main Street, Room 304, Akron OH 44308.
For property damaged by the July flooding, the filing deadline is December 31, 2011. Ms. Scalise has stressed the importance of filing this application as soon as possible. Any deduction from value will affect the tax bills mailed in January 2012.
The amount of the deduction equals a percentage of the reduction in value caused by the damage. That percentage is determined by the calendar quarter in which the damage occurred; the reduction will be 50% in value of the destroyed portion.
Example: Your property is appraised for $100,000 by the Fiscal Office. Your insurance company indicates you sustained $10,000 damage to your property due to the recent flooding. Since the storms occurred in July, you are entitled to a 50% reduction of the damage amount. Therefore, your property will be appraised at $95,000 for tax year 2011.
- $100,000 - Original appraised value for tax year 2011
- $5,000 - 50% reduction of the $10,000 damage
- $95,000 - New appraised value for tax year 2011
Real estate taxes are billed one year in arrears so the reduction will be for tax year 2011 collection year 2012.
Once the application is filed, Ms. Scalise’s Appraisal Department will make the necessary inspections to determine the amount of damage. Damage to trees, landscaping and fencing, as well as personal items is excluded on residential properties. Ms. Scalise’s office tracks the repairs based on the applications received and building permits that have been filed from all the townships and cities affected by the storms.