For the June 6 New Mexico primary elections, SFR called up candidates in the CONTESTED races to test their knowledge. The rules for Pop Quiz are as follows:
No research allowed and if they call back later with the right answer, too bad.
To see who answered correctly (or came closest), check out our answer key below.
Questions:
1. Properties around the country are increasing in value dramatically. Santa Fe is no exception. Do you think the market is overvalued right now, and is there anything that can be done to mitigate that?
2. How is the veteran exemption status determined and how does it impact property taxes?
3. What is the process by which an individual can protest an assessor's valuation?
4. What year was the head of family exemption capped and how much was the cap set at?
5. If you had to induct someone into the legendary County Assessor Hall of Fame, who would it be and why?
Answers:
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Brian Baca, 42, is Santa Fe County chief deputy assessor.
1. Well, I don't necessarily think the market is overvalued. It's part of the appraisal process to take into consideration supply and demand. Santa Fe is a very popular destination for people to live. Lots of retirees come out here. And so it's the supply and demand that's influencing the market.
2. There are two different options. Any veteran that has served in the armed forces can apply for an exemption that decreases their net taxable value by $4,000. And there is another exemption for veterans that are disabled from a service related disability to receive 100 percent exempt statutes on their primary residence. In Santa Fe, we have 300 of those veterans.
3. In the month of April, all assessors in New Mexico mail out a Notice of Value to property owners. If the owner does not agree with the valuation or is denied an exemption, they have 30 days from the date of mailing to [file a complaint].
4. Oh, it's uh…I really don't know that offhand. I could find out. I don't have my tax code [booklet] on hand. The cap is $2,500.
5. Uh, I would have to say my boss Benito Martinez. He has just done an exceptional job as county assessor. He has really moved the department forward in terms of geographic information and some of the services we can provide as well.
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Domingo Martinez, 53, is the New Mexico state auditor.
1. Well, I don't think the market is overvalued. The sales are what control the market, whatever properties are being sold in a select market. Especially if there's more than one sale in a particular neighborhood. To mitigate that, an ordinance was passed by [State Rep.] Ben Lujan that says we can only increase [a property's value] three percent a year for tax rolls. That's help for the residential taxpayer.
2. It is an exemption of $2,000 per household veteran. Basically, the veteran needs to bring in the certificate, and the exemption is for the value of the property for the veteran's lifetime.
3. An appraisal is protested by filling out a form 30 days after that assessment is mailed by the assessor. The assessor can also try and meet informally with the taxpayer to see if they can take care of the problem. Then it goes to the Protest Board, made up of individuals appointed by the County Commission and an individual from the Property Tax Division.
4. I believe it was capped in 1998 at $2,000.
5. It would probably be a friend of mine by the name of Ted Davis. He was the chief appraiser for the Property Tax Division during my tenure there. He was a wealth of information. He had experience in international properties and was really a wealth of information. All of the staff really looked up to him to and were always looking for his advice and point of view on the appraisal system.
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Robert Quintana, 51, is currently unemployed.
1. Yes, I believe they are overvalued right now. I think there are things we can do to try and pick up as many properties as we can to help bring down the value.
2. The way I understand it, the veteran status-you get an exemption on their properties, license plates and other things. The federal government gives them.
3. There is a limited time when they can come in if they feel their property value was assessed [incorrectly]. I personally recommend they come in and make an appointment so that a field officer can reappraise the property.
4. Ahhhh! I have no idea on that right now.
5. I would say my mother, Mercy Quintana. She was Santa Fe County assessor from 1987 to 1997.
Answer Key:
2. The New Mexico Veterans' Service Commission issues a certificate to all qualifying veterans. The certificate can be used to claim a property tax exemption of $4,000 per year.
3. A property owner can protest a valuation by filing a petition with the assessor no later than 30 days after the mailing of the Notice of Value. A property owner can also meet informally with a representative of the Assessor's Office to discuss the matter. If the matter is still not resolved, a formal hearing with the Valuation Protest Board will take place.
4. The head of family exemption was capped in 1993 at $2,000.
