By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The Darien Village Board agreed Monday to wait until 2017 to enter into an agreement with Accurate Appraisal for a revaluation of village property.
As the board considered authorizing a revaluation in 2016, board President Kurt Zipp said the village has a lot of moving parts going on right now and waiting until 2017 might be best. Zipp said the closure of Tax Incremental District No. 2 and the opening of TID No. 3, which was also finalized Monday, might make it wise to wait.
Luke Mack, a representative of Accurate Appraisal, told the board it could wait until 2017 but had to get it done no later than 2018 to remain in compliance with state regulations. Mack said the village has not been revalued since 2009 and the Department of Revenue recommends it be done every four to six years.
Mack also said the current valuation shows that residential properties are being overassessed at a rate 12 percent higher than what homes are selling for right now. In addition, older homes are selling for a lot less than they are assessed for, Mack said.
Mack presented three options for a revaluation – a market update at a one-time cost of $19,900, an exterior revaluation at a one-time cost of $36,500, or a full revaluation at a cost of $62,500 over five years. Mack said those costs should not increase dramatically for 2017.
Residential inspections
The board approved a new ordinance regarding the registration and inspection of residential rental units. Administrator Rebecca Houseman LeMire said the ordinance requires all current owners of rental property to register with the village once and all new owners must register. No registration fee is charged, and the ordinance reduces inspections to once every three years instead of annually for residential and single-family units above commercial businesses. Inspection fees will be a standard fee rather than based on a schedule, and single family inspections will occur by complaint only and a fee charged only when the inspection was warranted.
