LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Our home valuations have gone rogue

Ramona Goolsby has good advice for everyone in her recent letter about renting from Sandoval County, but misses an important point about our valuations. In Corrales all valuations are unlawful. The assessor uses a communitywide estimate of land value in Corrales, either $290,000, $235,000 or $200,000 depending how far land is from the river. The district court ruled that this method is not just incompetent, it is unlawful — but she is doing it anyways.

The court puts it like this: Based on the evidence of the variability of the properties in Corrales and the differences between the properties in the north of Corrales and the properties in the south, the board in effect concluded that the assessor did not appropriately define the universe of similar properties. Instead of looking only at those properties in a similar location in the north of Corrales with similar amenities, the assessor included sales of properties in the south of Corrales, which were more desirable and more valuable for a number of reasons. Accordingly, the requirements of the mass appraisal technique as approved under New Mexico law were not met.

This communitywide estimate went up 42% for every property east of Corrales Road, regardless of property size, location, access or actual value. At a Corrales town hall, Rep. Cates described the Sandoval assessor as ‘Rogue’ but then declared there was little the Democrats would be able to do to reign in their problem child.

So be sure to thank your local Democrats for the price increases you will see at farmers markets this year and seriously consider protesting anything you think is an excessive increase, because it may also be unlawful.

Ken Dehoff

Corrales