Team Slumlord Shows True Colors

Tuesday, October 27, 2009
PROPERTY TAXES EXPLAINED
Learn from an experienced professional

- How the property tax process works
- What the parts of a property tax bill mean
- How assessed values are set
- When it makes sense to appeal your assessment
- How to tell if your property description is correct
- How to tell if your assessment is logical and reasonable
- How an assessed value can be successfully appealed

Key Speaker will be Joe Wszolek, President, Joseph Wszolek & Associates, Inc., Indiana Certified Residential Appraiser, Indiana Certified Level II Assessor-Appraiser, Indiana Certified Tax Representative (Real Property Assessment Appeal)

Bring your tax bill and record card (Property description) for help in appealing assessments. Appeal forms and info on how to appeal an assessment will be available.

DATE: Thursday, October 29
TIME: 6-9 PM
PLACE: Woodmar United Methodist Church, 7320 Northcote (Corner of Northcote and Southwestern)

Posted by Team Hammond at Tuesday, October 27, 2009
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Now this property tax information sounds great. It is definately a benefit to all residents of Lake County to hear Joe Wszolek teach you how to file property tax appeals. Team Haminnisotiville deserves credit for putting on this class, nothing more. What is wrong with this posting on their blog? What about this post on their blogsite tells me that they are not from Hammond??

http://www.post-trib.com/news/davich/1897545,jdavich-1122.article

In excerpts:

Sometimes it's just a slow process for these things to get reflected on public records," Katona explained.

There also is a disclaimer on the Web site, stating, "All information on this site has been derived from public records that are constantly undergoing change and is not warranted for content or accuracy. It may not reflect the most current information pertaining to the property of interest."

The whistleblower also alleged that this guy accepted a check from a Lake County city to all of its "senior citizen property owners," made out to his dead mother.

"If a county office is so totally clueless about the validity of credit claims, handing them out like parade candy, it makes one wonder about (this city's) database," she said.

But Katona told me that the homeowner, in fact, returned that check to the city.

"He was honest about all this," Katona said.

New law kicks in in 2010

Regarding the second homeowner, Katona's office mailed him a letter stating her office has "reason to believe" that he may have unwarranted exemptions. If he doesn't reply in 30 days to prove his case, those exemptions will be removed, she said.

"This has been a major problem for years," Katona said, noting the cat-and-mouse game of homeowners illegally taking exemptions on their properties. "If we find out, we remove them."

Let's set the record straight: It's a cat and mouse game, only because you people from YOUR office are computer illiterate,, too old, and outdated for your jobs. You couldn't even copy the plat number right, thus me paying taxes under the old owner who died. When you can't get the property taxes out on time, when you over-bill on a house as "NEW" rather than upgraded, then YOU people in THAT office need to move on, and let the college graduates have a grab at your jobs. No, let fifth-graders do it. You people in the accessors office and the likes of you in Crown Point need to get out of your outdated office, and allow the computer upgrades to occur with computer-savy Purdue Graduates to have a reason to stay in Indiana, and contribute the latest upgrades of brains!


Katona was appreciative of the "tips" from the whistleblower, even if one allegation was proven incorrect.

"Residents are our eyes and ears for these things," she said. "This is how we often find out about fraudulent claims."

Katona noted a new state law going into effect next year that will include the mailing of a questionnaire to all homeowners with specific questions pertaining to exemptions and claims. If these letters receive no reply each year, all exemptions can be removed. It's also possible for fraudulent cases to be charged back taxes.

"We're clamping down on this issue," she said, noting that a state database is being created for cross-checking purposes.

This can only be a good thing because she also faxed me a mind-numbing 27-page explanation regarding property tax deductions. It's more complex than a NASA rocket launch mission.

For example, did you know that an "individual" is eligible for a homestead deduction, but a "person" is not? It's true. An individual is a "human being," but a person can be a "Limited Liability Company," or LLC.

So, to all you potential whistleblowers, be sure to double-check your facts and figures before blowing your whistle on any fraudulent foul plays.

Visit Jerry's blog at http://blogs.post-trib.com/davich/, his Facebook, and Twitter at @jdavich

We all know Team Hammond are outside landlords, know the system, and how to work the system. They just want to spread the word. Hey, take your house off the market on my street. The roof is leaking, the walls are full of mold. That's TEAM SCHAMMOND, living outside of Hammond, hoping some fool will fall for the $29,000.00 house. The one with the hole recently exposed, for some reason, which explains the molded insides. Some inspector should come along and ticket the place for the condition it is in, regardless if it's up for sale or not. It's detrimental to the property values for neighbors that are fixing up their places, wanting pride in their place...I think I'll visit the inspector's office and fill out a written complaint. I'm sure the guy that owns it, owns dozens like it, and wants to sell, "as is". I know that...for a fact. He belongs to Team SCAMMINHammond. Wow, what a surprise that it hasn't been fixed up...yet, he wants to expose a family in there maybe with some kids, to give them asthma, what'eva. Dumb-butts.

"Katona noted a new state law going into effect next year that will include the mailing of a questionnaire to all homeowners with specific questions pertaining to exemptions and claims. If these letters receive no reply each year, all exemptions can be removed. It's also possible for fraudulent cases to be charged back taxes."


What's that prove if they have the tenants cover their butts? By law, you can't open up anyone else's mail, so a tenant will hold the mail for the landlord.

Or, even if they don't what good is this if the name of the homeowner appears on multiple properties and they still get their mail.

Time to get out of your job. Get real time computers, and let Purdue handle the jobs that you people can't, as internships. Problems then will be solved, and wasted taxpayers' money will be restored, and directed to the proper entities.

I thought IL was crooked, but nothing like Indiana in comparison. Even when you go to set the records straight, they still screw it up in Crown Point. That's my point. Out with the patronage, in with the brains from Purdue to show they have the brains to replace outdated, old time patronage-connected workers. Move on, so Indiana residents can "MOVE ON". When you go there to correct records, they still don't correct them. Back taxes, when they are incompetent, and people try to set them straight? What a joke. Blaming someone else for being honest, but lacking the integrity that calls for them to apologize for being incompetent on the job. What a joke this state is!!!!~!

Team Schammond is going to make a mockery out of Crown Point. They are going to take advantage of an old computer system, out-dated workers, and teach others how to "Play It Forward".

I've been to Crown Point to inform you that two separate tax bills are completely wrong. You still can't get it right. Bring it on.

Just noted the date, damn. How'd it turn out?