Something wrong with property taxes

My husband passed away in September 2010. When I received the 2012 notice of value in March of 2011, I was not prepared to appeal that figure at that time. I also thought that there may have been a mistake, as has happened in previous years.

The following are the values since buying the property in 2004: $102,257 in 2004; $90,606 in 2005; $99,999 in 2006; $137,880 in 2007; $143,054 in 2008; $165,802 in 2009; $136,415 in 2010; $121,122 in 2011; and $160,238 in 2012.

When I inquired about the amount in 2009, I was told that it reflected the value when things were booming, not the 2009 recession value.

After receiving my tax statement this year, I went to the assessor's office and asked to be shown why my property taxes were increased by $39,000? I also asked him to look me in the eye and tell me that was a reasonable reassessment. The only answer I received was “You didn't appeal it,” but my assessed value for next year will be $121,336. I have already received a notice of that fact.

I asked my neighbor if his assessment had gone up and his reply was that it had actually gone down. What is wrong with this picture?

FLORENCE ENNENGA

Foothills