• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Nevada Business Magazine

The Decision Maker's Magazine

Subscribe Now!

  • Subscriptions
    • Print
    • Mobile App
    • Email
    • Nevada News & PR Wire
  • Features
    • New This Month
    • View Issues
    • Cover Stories
    • Feature Stories
    • Industry Focus
    • Building Nevada
    • Special Reports
    • Meet the Decision Maker
    • Press Release Wire
    • Nevada Industries
  • Departments
    • A Matter of Opinion
    • Around the State
    • Business Indicators
    • Commentary
    • Commercial RE Report
    • Crossfire
    • Expert Advice
    • Face to Face
    • Free Market Watch
    • Inside Politics
    • Power of Attorney
    • Profit & Loss
    • Speaking for Nevada
    • Tech.knowledge.me
    • The Last Word
    • Vital Signs
  • Planning Calendar
  • Advertising
    • Advertising Info
    • Advertising Staff
    • Submission Requirements
    • Online Advertising
  • Events
    • NBM Events
  • About
    • About the Magazine
    • Contact the Staff
  • Connect
    • Business Directory
    • Press Release Wire
    • Business Calendar
    • Submit Listing
    • Post Press Release
    • Add Your Event
    • Sign Up
    • Log In
You are here: Home / Departments / Commentary / Property Tax Rebellion: Fighting for Justice

Property Tax Rebellion: Fighting for Justice

February 1, 2013 By Lyle Brennan 2 Comments

Lyle BrennanThe tax revolt at Lake Tahoe has reached the 10-year mark, with no end in sight. The Village League to Save Incline Assets was formed in December 2002 by a small group of Incline Village and Crystal Bay property owners to protest outrageously high property tax increases. This small group of determined taxpayers has been fighting Washoe County and the State Board of Equalization ever since. Even though they have won six cases in the Nevada Supreme Court, they have only achieved partial victory in their David-and-Goliath battle.

The Nevada Constitution requires “a uniform and equal rate of assessment and taxation,” but property tax assessments have been anything but equal for people living close to the lake; and now, for many property owners located throughout the state. Because the state had not provided uniform guidelines for determining property values, like other counties in the state, Washoe County had developed its own system for rating Tahoe parcels, including such intangibles as the view of the lake. For example, Mary Ingemanson, the president of the League, said she was assessed $80,000 a year in property taxes by Washoe County, while a similar property with the same lake frontage and a larger and newer home was assessed $18,000 by Douglas County.

After numerous battles with the county that escalated into the courts, Washoe County re-assessed the properties in 2006. The assessor went back to the beginning of the protest, estimating how much the properties should have been assessed for those tax years. The county now had a starting point so it could roll back the tax assessments. But after all these years and several court rulings against it, Washoe County is still fighting to keep the taxpayers’ money.

In July 2011, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that the county had used unconstitutional property assessment methods starting in 2002. The justices tossed out the Washoe County system and ordered the county to issue refunds to 8,700 property tax payers for the 2006 tax year forward. But what was once a $100,000 debt had ballooned to more than $43 million due to the wonders of compound interest. About 70 percent of residents have received their refunds, and the rest should be paid by August.

But the group is still fighting to get refunds for tax years 2003, 2004 and 2005, which should total around $20 million with accrued interest. Interest is still mounting, costing Washoe County thousands of dollars a day for its delaying tactics. The Nevada Supreme Court ruled in favor of some individual taxpayers, who received refunds, and later affirmed that their ruling applied to all the taxpayers who owned lakeshore property in Washoe County, but most of them are still waiting for their money.

In February 2012 another Supreme Court ruling required the State Board of Equalization to hold public hearings on creating a uniform way for all counties to assess property values. The justices blamed the state, not the county, for the Lake Tahoe mess, saying the state hadn’t performed its duty of ensuring that county assessors value properties using similar standards.

The State Board held two hearings last fall. In the first one, after hearing the taxpayers’ side of the story, the board agreed unanimously that the Washoe County assessments from 2003 to 2005 were incorrect. But as soon as word got out about the board’s decision, political pressure must have been brought to bear, because at the next hearing in November, the board reversed itself. It ordered the county assessor to go back and estimate what the value of each property would have been 10 years ago. Even though they had already done a re-assessment in 2006, this allowed the county to stall for another 6 to 12 months. Another meeting of the State Board of Equalization is scheduled for this month. Will the board do its constitutional duty this time and finally grant justice to the Village League?

The injustice of the Tahoe owners is indicative of the property tax system statewide. A fair equitable and reasonable solution must be instituted post haste or assessors throughout Nevada will waste even more taxpayer dollars defending the indefensible.

For a 31-page history of this epic battle, visit NevadaPropertyTaxRevolt.org.

Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: Crystal Bay, Douglas County, Incline Village, Mary Ingemanson, Nevada Constitution, Nevada Supreme Court, State Board of Equalization, tax revolt at Lake Tahoe, Village League to Save Incline Assets, Washoe County

Paul Krakovitz: Intermountain Healthcare

Edward Vance: EV&A Architects

Scott Arkills: Silver State Schools Credit Union

Tonya Ruby: Cox Media Las Vegas

Online Advertorials

Online Advertorials

Roseman’s College of MedicineAddressing the Physician Workforce Shortage while Being a Positive Economic Driver

Groundbreaking LawRequires Businesses Replace Decorative Grass

The Southern NevadaEvaporative Cooling Issue

New Law Targets Turf in Southern NevadaWill Save 10 Percent of Water Supply

Advertise With Us

Advertise With Us. more details ►

Primary Sidebar

Get important updates from Nevada Business Magazine, directly to your inbox.
Subscribe

Keep WatchFinancing in Nevada

Industry FocusProperty Management

Transportation in NevadaChallenges and Opportunities

Nevada Business Awards2022

Nevada News & PR Wire

  • Nevada Affordable Housing Assistance Corporation Announces Additional Available Funding for Homeowners in Need

  • Henderson Chamber of Commerce to Host Networking Breakfast Highlighting Equity &Amp; Inclusion in Business

  • Special Olympics Nevada Receives $5K Donation From Health and Wellness Solutions Company, GOLO

  • Three Southwest Medical Specialties Newly Recognized as Nevada’s Only Patient-Centered Specialty Practices by the National Committee for Quality Assurance

  • Clark County School District Expanding Career & Technical Education (CTE) Program With $100,000 From Google

  • Optum Care Anesthesia Adds a New Health Care Provider

  • Ninth Grader’s Dinosaur Design Chosen for New Move 4 Less Truck Wrap — Surprise Reveal Made at Student’s School, Prizes Awarded —

  • People Over Profit Foundation & Silver State Schools Credit Union Announces 2022 Scholarship Program Recipients

  • CSN Awards More Than 4,200 Degree at 50th Annual Commencement Ceremony

  • Bank of Nevada, First Independent Bank, Green Our Planet and Nevada Department of Education Make Financial Literacy Curriculum Available to Every Nevada Student

  • Fort 137 Designed by Daniel Joseph Chenin, Ltd. Recognized as Finalist in International 2022 A+Awards for Architecture and Interior Design

  • De Castroverde Law Group Expands Service With Henderson Location

  • CALV Attracts Record Interest in Spring Mixer

  • Owner of Emerald Island and Rainbow Club Casinos Receives Prestigious Accolade by The Silver State Awards

  • Charlie Palmer’s Pigs & Pinot Returns to the Grand Sierra Resort June 11

  • The Nevada Dairy Farmers Culinary Scholarship Deadline Extended

  • Trosper Public Relations in Nevada Promotes From Within

  • Nathan Adelson Hospice’s Annual “A Flair for Care” Fashion Show & Luncheon Raised More than $500,000 for the Hospice’s Uncompensated Care Program

  • Optum Care to Hold On-Site Hiring Event May 17

  • The Discovery Introduces New Exhibition: Energy/Energía

  • Grand Sierra Resort and Casino Makes Major Contribution to the Children’s Cabinet

  • What’s New for the 2022 Reno Rodeo

  • CALVPresident Angelina Scarcelli Honored by GlobeSt.com Women of Influence

  • Henderson Professional Fire Fighters, Henderson Hospital and City of Henderson Kick off “Safe Pools Rule!” Campaign

  • Applied Analysis Announces Management Promotions and Returning Team Member

  • May 26 NAIOP Southern Nevada Breakfast Presents “Nevada Elections and Politics: Midterm Update”

  • Henderson Chamber of Commerce Promotes Events Manager

  • Tee Off for a Great Cause at United Way of Southern Nevada’s 65TH Anniversary Golf United Tournament

  • Attorney General Ford Cautions Nevadans to Be on the Lookout for Credit Union, Bank Imposter Scams

  • Cox Donates Laptops to Intermountain Healthcare’s Medical Assistant Training Program

  • Nathan Adelson Hospice Announces Staff Promotions

  • Las Vegas-Based Social Issues Theatre Hosts Fundraiser to Support Mental Wellness and Community Unity

  • State Child and Family Services Issues Discount Cards in Honor of Foster Care Month

  • CSN Celebrates Its 50th Commencement Ceremony

  • More Prizes Added to Golden Ticket Raffle for Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada — Six Fabulous Packages, May 31 Drawing —

  • Local Businesses Partner with Project 150 to Launch After School Program, ‘A Fighting Chance,’ for Homeless, Displaced and Disadvantaged High School Students

  • Helix Electric of Nevada to Host Charity Spring Golf Tournament

  • Camp Rhino Trainers And Members To Transport Heavy Equipment Manually To New Location

  • LP Insurance Names Marsh HR Director

  • Crovetti Orthopaedics Welcomes Board Certified Jennifer D’Andrea, APRN to Medical Team

  • Nevada Donor Network &Latin Chamber of Commerce of Nevada Launch ‘Corazon de Esperanza’ Latino Donor Outreach Campaign

  • Local Diver to Appear on the Problem Solver Show to Discuss the Search for Human Remains in Lake Mead

  • Calv Presents June 2 Class on Land Sales

  • Ira Gostin to Lead Creative Innovation Workshop at PRSA Counselors Academy in Scottsdale, Ariz.

  • Touchstone Living Breaks Ground On Independence Offering Attainable Homes For First-Time Homebuyers

  • aha! On Course to Complete 1,500 Flights

  • FirstMed Health and Wellness Center Partners with Transit Centers to Combat Human Trafficking in Southern Nevada

  • Rudy Ruettiger to Speak at Northern Nevada Italian Association Annual Fundraising Dinner May 19

  • Southwest Medical Adds Two New Health Care Providers

  • Optum Care Cancer Care Adds a New Provider

  • Elko REALTOR® Greg Martin Appointed to Key 2023 Position With National Association Of REALTORS®

  • Local Dentists Provide Free Care to Uninsured Children at Give Kids a Smile Event

  • Laine Blackmon Joins Blackmon Home Loans and NV Capital Corporation as Loan Officer

  • Cross Creek, a 197-Home Community at the Historic Lompa Ranch, Opens in Carson City

  • Dr. Catherine Prato Introduces NuseMuse a New Web-Based Study Platform Is Built for Nursing Students by Nurses!

  • UNLV Engineering Students Showcased Inventions With Commercial Potential at Senior Design Competition on May 5

  • Tom Clark Solutions Chosen as Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce Lobbyist of Record

  • Southern Nevada Home Prices Keep Climbing While Sales Start to Slide

  • Lipson Neilson Partner Jessica A. Green Appointed Interim Hearing Master for the Las Vegas Municipal Court

  • The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges To Hold 85th Annual Conference in Northern Nevada

  • United Way of Southern Nevada Welcomes New Director of Fund Development and Donor Relationships

  • Henderson Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Wins U.S. Small Business Administration Award Recognition

  • Taurean Consulting Group Promotes Brianda Barrett to Technical Recruiter

  • Sunset Montessori Community Announces 2022 Summer Camps

  • OurFamilyWizard Joins National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges With Corporate Sponsorship

  • Natalie Gulbis Golf Classic to Benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada — Foursome and Sponsor Opportunities Still Available for May 16 Event —

  • Celebrate Mother’s Day at Emerald Island and Rainbow Club Casinos

  • aha! Announces New Non-stop Service Between Reno and Santa Rosa

  • Henderson Chamber of Commerce Announces Two-Year Rate Lock for Association Health Plans During 2022 Open Enrollment

  • Pro Football Hall of Fame & SilverSummit Healthplan Focus on Student Mental Health & Suicide Prevention at ‘Strong Youth Strong Communities’ Youth Summits

  • Siena Italian Now Taking Reservations For Mother’s Day Brunch and Dinner

  • Mariposa Cocina And Cocktails Launches Cinco De Mayo Celebration!

  • Is Your Business Prepared for Cyber Attacks? iTernal Networks’ Free Upcoming Webinar “Why Your Company Needs a Cyber Security Risk Assessment” – May 12th 1 pm PDT

  • Cox and Manheim Nevada Help Launch Cox “34 by 2034” Social Initiative

  • Southern Nevada Senior Law Program Spreads Awareness of Older Americans Month

  • Asset Tracking Maker, SeeID Wins $200,000 Investment From AngelNV

  • Broadbent & Associates, Inc. Awarded 2022 Nevada Wastewater Circuit Rider Contract

  • CAMCO Promotes Tabitha Gerken to Division Director of Its Southern Nevada Portfolio Division

  • LVGEA President & CEO Tina Quigley Joins the Workforce Connections Board

  • Six Nevada-Based Startups to Vie for $200,000 AngelNV Investment This Saturday Afternoon at Las Vegas City Hall

  • Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas’ Sandy Ridge Campus Ranked in the Top 5 of Best High Schools in Nevada by U.S. News & World Report

  • Nevada State Bank Branches Collecting Feminine Hygiene Products and Gently Used Purses for Local Nonprofit

  • Celebrate Older Americans Month ‘The Reno Way’ Throughout May

  • Pro Football Hall of Famers & SilverSummit Healthplan Visit Metro Police Officers

  • Nevada Donor Network and Clark County Commission: Welcome to Las Vegas Sign Turns Blue and Green to Celebrate National Donate Life Month ‘Blue and Green Day’

  • Tonopah High School Students in J4NG Discover Career Paths at Kinross Nevada

  • Chicanos Por La Causa Celebrates Grand Opening of New Las Vegas Office and Minority Business Development Agency Center with Local Leaders

  • SafeNest Spring Soiree Will Celebrate Kentucky Derby Day, Raise Funds for Critical Survivor Services and Programs

  • Dunkin’® Debuts Vibrant Flavors, Delicious New Ingredients & the Return of Fan Favorites to Make the Most of Sunnier Days Ahead

  • Thrive Wellness Expands Specialized Mental Health Treatment Centers

  • Kara Harris Joins Business Banking Team at First Independent Bank

  • SR Construction Named Design-Build General Contractor For The Hyde Park Commercial Redevelopment Project

  • Angels of Las Vegas Receives $7,000 Grant From Walmart!

  • Great Chef Run Adds Attractions for April 30 Las Vegas Event

  • Rockefeller Group Acquires 6-Acre Parcel In Clark County, Nev. For $4.26 Million; Will Develop 134,100 SF Distribution Center

  • REMSA Health Announces Promotion of Six Leaders Within the Organization

  • BPL Supplies Announces New Customer Service Manager and In-House Art Director

  • LUXUS Design Build Appoints Project Manager

  • Jarrett Seegmiller Joins Ascent Multifamily Accounting

  • KPS3 Announces Michael Lindsey as Art Director



 
Submit Your News & PR | Subscribe
Submit Your News & PR

Business Connection

Business Connection Portal

Log In Sign Up

Business Connection Portal

Log In Sign Up

Nevada Business Calendar

  • Golden Ticket Raffle
    May 31, 2022 12:00 am

    More details...
  • Nevada Workforce: Training, Hiring and Managing Employees
    June 2, 2022 7:30 am

    Location: 6635 West Badura Ave, 180, Las Vegas, NV 89118

    More details...
View Full Calendar ►

Nevada Business Directory

Featured Businesses
Find a Nevada-Based Business Submit Your Business Subscribe to the Nevada News & PR Wire

Nevada Industries

Architects & Engineers
Arts & Culture
Banking
Commercial Real Estate
Construction
Credit Unions
Economic Development
Education
Financial Management
Healthcare
Human Resources
Insurance
Law
Manufacturing
Marketing
Media
Mining
Philanthropy
Residential Real Estate
Rural Nevada
Sports
Tax Planning and Accounting
Technology
Telecom
Tourism
Transportation
Utilities

Footer

Subscriptions

  • Print Subscription
  • Mobile App
  • E-mail Subscription

Editorial

  • Features
  • Departments
  • Events

Advertising

  • Advertise
  • Submission Requirements

Connect

  • Contact
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022, Business Link LLC dba Nevada Business Magazine and Nevada Business Journal. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions
Nevada Web Design services by Nevada Central Media using Genesis Framework by StudioPress

    *Your Name

    *Your Email

    Phone Number

    Company

    *Subject

    *Your Message

      *Your Name

      *Your Email

      Phone Number

      Company

      *Subject

      *Your Message

        *Your Name

        *Your Email

        Phone Number

        Company

        *Subject

        *Your Message

          *Your Name

          *Your Email

          Phone Number

          Company

          *Subject

          *Your Message

            *Your Name

            *Your Email

            Phone Number

            Company

            *Subject

            *Your Message

              *Your Name

              *Your Email

              Phone Number

              Company

              *Subject

              *Your Message

                *Your Name

                *Your Email

                Phone Number

                Company

                *Subject

                *Your Message

                  *Your Name

                  *Your Email

                  Phone Number

                  Company

                  *Subject

                  *Your Message

                    *Your Name

                    *Your Email

                    Phone Number

                    Company

                    *Subject

                    *Your Message