The Monroe County commissioners approved hiring a company for $2 million to do help them assess which real estate properties need to be reappraised or reassessed.

The commissioners hired Tyler Technologies Inc. to perform statistical reassessment and sketch verification services for the county at cost of $2,088,540. The professional service agreement is subject to the solicitor’s review.

“One of the reasons that we are taking this on is that the common level ratio is continuing to fall,” said Commissioner John Christy, chairman.

Currently the ratio is 50.1, but it will be 46.1 as of July 1.

“So in other words, people can come in and appeal and get a 54% discount,” Christy said. “It shifts a burden to those that shouldn’t have it.”

Robert Gress, the chief clerk for Monroe County, explained that the “common level is falling based on data that the state receives on home values versus assessed values.” This has been in decline since 2019.

“The sketch verification will assist the county to identify properties that built additions or improvements that did not get permits,” Gress said. “All properties assessments will reflect 100% common level ratio, this will allow all of the properties whose assessments were reduced during the appeal, to be placed back on the assessment rolls.”

Gress gave an example. He said if a property’s assessed value was reduced from $1,000,000 to $500,000, which is a 50.1 common level ratio, it will now be brought back to the $1,000,000 assessed value.

“Due to the new assessment figures, the millage rates of taxing jurisdictions will be reduced as well,” he said.

The sketch verification work will begin in August.