LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Renting our homes from Sandoval County

On April 1st, Sandoval County pulled an April Fools’ prank: new property appraisals proving we don’t really own our homes. We’re just renting them from the county and state — forever. These notices hit mailboxes nine days ago, and the soaring values left many of us stunned. Let’s call it what it is: a wealth tax. We’ve bought our homes with hard-earned cash, yet every year, we pay again for owning them — as if the deed comes with a perpetual price tag.

This isn’t a tax on income or spending; it’s a tax on what we’ve built. Take a homeowner who paid $200,000 for their house a decade ago. Now it’s “worth” $350,000 because the market’s hot. They don’t see that gain unless they sell, but the county still demands more — hundreds extra each year, plus a baked-in 3% hike that keeps compounding. With elevated values and relentless increases, it’s a squeeze designed to drain people dry. The county bets people will grumble but do nothing.

They can be proved wrong. If your appraisal feels unfair, you’ve got until May 1st to push back. Here’s how: Check your Notice of Value. If it’s inflated, grab a Protest Petition from sandovalcountynm.gov or the Assessor’s Office. Back it up with evidence — recent sales of similar homes, a private appraisal, or proof they botched your square footage. File by May 1st — 30 days from when the notices were mailed. If the assessor doesn’t agree, you’ll get a hearing with the County Valuation Protest Board. Bring five copies of your evidence, make your case, and if they still dismiss you, appeal to the 13th Judicial District Court within 30 days. It’s not just a right — it’s a chance to push back against a system that keeps asking for more.

This matters because property tax turns homeowners into tenants of the state. We pay rent on what’s ours, year after year, while the county cashes in on market booms we didn’t ask for. It’s not fair, and it’s not subtle. A week into April, those notices are still fresh — stinging reminders that ownership is an illusion unless people fight to keep it real.

Ramona Goolsby

Rio Rancho