Protesting Your Valuation -
In Douglas County, Nebraska, it is difficult, if not impossible to obtain due process and a fair and impartial judgment when protesting your property's value. As a general rule, the criteria necessary for a property owner is highly subjective and weighed heavily in favor of the assessor. All protests are submitted in writing. You no longer have a right to personally present your case. This has come about because Morrissey has done a woefully inadequate job whereby thousands of property owners protested their property values causing a strain on the system. Other than the skimpy, and often erroneous, details provided on the assessor's web site, a property owner has no way of determining the arguments used by the assessor for his opinion of value.
Under NO circumstances should you permit a representative from the assessor's office to inspect the interior of your residence. In the event you protest your valuation, any information obtained by the assessor's representative will be used against you. It is your word against theirs, and after all they are supposed to be the "experts". They are working for Morrissey and attempting to preserve their own employment. As the owner of your property, NOBODY knows the value of your residence better than you! If you feel you need to point out something about the quality of construction or condition of your residence, then submit photographs.
Morrissey is arrogant and feels his opinion of value is the only one that counts. He refuses to acknowledge that he is frequently wrong. If caught and brought to the attention of the media he will usually makeup some lame excuse or blame someone else. It doesn't matter if you have hired, at great expense to you, a qualified independent appraiser to value your property. If you win your appeal it may only mean you have won a temporary victory. The following year, Morrissey can again raise your valuation, and being mean spirited, he often does. You must go through the whole process all over again. During the past 4 years, approximately 1,500 Douglas County taxpayers have won their valuation appeals, only to have Morrissey raise their valuations higher the following year. Nebraska law must be changed!