Leading Edge | Lucas County Auditor discusses property valuations | February 9, 2025

LUCAS COUNTY REVALUATION TURMOILKatie Moline | Lucas County AuditorLucas County Auditor Katie Moline is currently at the centerof a property revaluation issue that has caused concern among residents. The revaluation process, which adjusts property values for tax purposes, has led to significant increases in property assessments across the county, sparking public frustration. Recently, former Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez weighedin, expressing criticism of the handling of the situation. Lopez, who held the position before Moline, suggested that the current administration could have done more to mitigate the impact on homeowners and improve communication about the process. Her comments highlight the growing divide over how the revaluation was managed and its implications for local taxpayers.Moline has engaged the services of an independent thirdparty to conduct a review of the county’s troubled property valuation processes. Ms. Moline says the precise scope of the third-party review was still being worked out and that the costs of such a review were, at this time, unknown. She added that the intention of the review is to look at “the glitch” that happened in 2024 and to determine best practices for future valuations in Lucas County. Ms. Moline reiterated that she is confident that her office has found the programming error that caused more than 1,400 properties to be incorrectly valued.The owners of those properties that were erroneously valued have now been notified. They should receive a new tax bill, and refunds are being processed for those who have already made a payment based on an inflated property value.