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Seniors: Apply for Valuation Protection Today

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If you are over the age of 65, you may qualify for valuation protection.

Applications are being accepted for the 2020 Senior Valuation Protection. This program freezes the taxable portion of your property value for three years. While it will freeze your property value, it will not freeze your property taxes or tax rate.

In order to be eligible for this program, you must meet the three qualifications below:

• At least one owner on the property title must be at least 65 years old
• Provide proof of the property is used as the primary residence for at least two years
• Have a maximum income of $37,584 for one owner or $46,980 for two owners

If you meet these qualifications, complete the application form by Sept. 1. You will be notified by Dec. 1 if your application is accepted.

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AZ Department of Revenue Approves 2021 Notices of Value

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The fruit of our hard work to assess more than 1.6 million parcels in Maricopa County accurately and fairly has been a tremendous success.

The Arizona Department of Revenue approved our 2021 Notices of Value earlier this week. "Because of the great work by your team, no equalization is necessary," they wrote.

View more of the statement below and be on the lookout for your 2021 Notice of Value in late February!

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Assessor's Office Wins Two AACo Awards

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A project that has helped serve Maricopa County property owners more effectively and efficiently has won two prestigious awards.

Project Green Line won the Arizona Association of Counties (AACo) 2019 Summit Award in County Administration, Finance & Management, and the distinguished Urban Innovation Merit Award. Robin St. Germain, acting ownership/mapping division manager, and Ken Errico, former ownership/mapping division manager, accepted the awards at the conclusion of the AACo Annual Leadership Conference.

The Property Ownership and GIS Mapping Division implemented Project Green line in March 2018 to streamline processes and improve efficiencies. Since implementation, the department has seen a double-digit percentage decrease in the average time to transfer property ownership and double-digit percentage increases in the number of splits and subdivisions mapped.

Congratulations to Robin, Ken, and the Property Ownership and GIS Mapping Divisions for their hard work and honors!

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The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appointed Bill Wiley to serve as the Acting Administrator to the Assessor's Office during Assessor Petersen's 120-day suspension.

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Below is a note from Mr. Wiley.

I am not a stranger to public service, having worked for federal, state, city, and county governments. My nearly 40-year career has taken me from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, into the private sector running several innovative departments within APS, and back into public service this decade leading the Maricopa County Air Quality Department and Flood Control District.

Most recently, I was chosen to lead the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department on an interim basis; if you are slowed down by the ubiquitous paving activities, you are enjoying the fruit of my task there. I am proud of the work of these organizations and of the extraordinary staff with their dedication and commitment to quality work.

You might be wondering, "What does an acting administrator do?" I have been asked to lead this organization during this time and will be working closely with the leadership team to ensure the mission is met and that people see us a stable and responsive organization. While my time here has just begun, I have already met many staff members and see an energetic staff of hard-working and skilled individuals who are committed to innovation as well as our mission.

Being in the public eye is not easy; often, it can be a thankless job. But, it is an important and necessary job; government does the things that our citizens believe need to be done for the overall public benefit. Having been in both the public and private sectors, I prefer the former, as I've always felt fortunate to be able to serve.

Thank you for your trust and cooperation. Together, we will continue to serve the property owners and residents of this great county.

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Innovating Local Government: How Project Green Line Reduced Inefficiencies and Improved Accuracy

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PHOENIX, AZ — Maricopa County Assessor Paul D. Petersen's office has taken the stereotypical slow, inefficient government model and turned it on its head. Project Green Line has produced efficiency levels not typically associated with government.

Petersen's Ownership and Mapping Division processes property deeds and keeps maps of properties accurate. Both affect the timeline of buying and selling a home as well as legitimizing other property ownership changes. With the success of this project, the office has been able to process documents in real time. Streamlining this process ensures tax payers are able to view their property record transactions without waiting months for government paperwork to be processed and then made available to the public for viewing.

In 2018 alone, Petersen's office processed 306,551 documents, reduced average deed processing time by 14%, reduced property ownership errors by 54%, and mapped 20% more subdivisions. The office under Ownership and Mapping manager Ken Errico has accomplished this through using Lean Management Practices as well as Six Sigma methodologies as the baseline of the project. Both of these models are typical practices in the private sector.

Project Green Line is an example of a results-driven management system. In fact, it is a model that Chairman Bill Gates has called for in order to improve our county government for Maricopa County residents.

Assessor Petersen is also currently working to update other functionalities to help the office run more efficiently and assist the public better in navigating the complicated world of property taxes.

Contact: Ryan Boyd
Tel: (602) 372-9295 (o) / 602-316-3572 (c)
Email: [email protected]

View Press Release

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Assessor Paul D. Petersen Mails Annual Notice of Value

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Values Rise Above Pre-Recession Levels; 60 Days to Appeal Values

PHOENIX, AZ – Maricopa County Assessor Paul D. Petersen is mailing out the annual Notice of Value for approximately 1.6 million real property parcels for tax year 2020 to Maricopa County property owners.

The annual notice of value includes both the full cash value which represents the market value and the limited property value which is used in property tax calculations for both the upcoming tax year 2020 and the tax year that just closed for comparison.

Real property values in Arizona are set a full year behind when they are used in order to allow for an extensive appeal process. Unlike other forms of taxation, property taxes allow residents to both appeal their individual values and testify on how much revenue should be raised in total to their local school districts, city or town, county board of supervisors and special districts.

Property owners will have 60 days to appeal their full cash value if they believe they have evidence that their property is worth less. While instructions are included on the Notice of Value, property owners can find more information on appeals at: Appeals Information Page.

"Our staff works diligently to provide high quality and efficient service to everyone in Maricopa County," Petersen said. "We are always willing to hear from you, our constituents, as our goal is to make sure every value is accurate and fair."

Overall, values have continued to rise following a seven-year trend. The median single-family residential full cash value has increased to $231,800, finally surpassing the pre-recession record of $229,500 in tax year 2008.

Commercial, apartments, condominiums and vacant land also saw significant value growth this year, with only manufactured housing seeing a decline in value among major property types.

Contact: Ryan Boyd
Tel: (602) 372-9295 (o) / 602-316-3572 (c)
Email: [email protected]

View Press Release

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Maricopa County Chief Deputy Assessor Timothy L. Boncoskey becomes President of the International Association of Assessing Officers

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PHOENIX — Timothy L. Boncoskey, the Chief Deputy Assessor under Maricopa County Assessor Paul D. Petersen, took on the role of President of the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) as of January 1, 2019 as the second Arizonan to do so.

Chief Deputy Assessor Boncoskey will lead the nearly 8,000 assessment professionals interested in property valuation and taxation across the globe in their mission to promote innovation and excellence in property appraisal, assessment administration and property tax policy.

The IAAO continues to be the forum to discuss and set industry standards on emerging technology such as integrating drones and more geographic data into property appraisals. As President, Chief Deputy Assessor Boncoskey will help guide these discussions and bring back best practices that will benefit the Maricopa County community.

This act of service comes on top of over a decade of volunteerism in the professional field. Chief Deputy Assessor Boncoskey has served in the IAAO since joining then-Maricopa County Assessor Keith E. Russell’s administration in 2006. He also serves on the National Association of Counties (NACo) Board of Directors and previously served 17 years in various positions in Arizona’s State government.

The inauguration of Chief Deputy Assessor Boncoskey is just one of many examples of why the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office has a reputation for innovation and leadership in property assessment.

Under Maricopa County Assessor Paul D. Petersen and Chief Deputy Assessor Tim Boncoskey, the Assessor’s Office has adopted its award-winning Legal Class Verification and Desktop Review Programs, launched its first fully digital forms and promoted electronic statements. All of which save taxpayers money and provide more convenient service to the public.

Contact: Ryan Boyd
Tel: (602) 372-9295
Email: [email protected]

View Press Release

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Assessor Petersen Launches First Fully Digital Forms for County Property Owners

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Getting things done at the Assessor's Office has never been easier with the addition of new electronic signature forms.

In the first round of fully digitizing forms, citizens can file to update their mailing address, apply for the Senior Valuation Protection program and combine Common Areas.

Instead of having to print out or edit a PDF form, the Adobe Sign Version of our forms allow individuals to fill out the entire form online. When the form is completed, it will be emailed to the Assessor's Office and the citizen so that each has a record of the submission without having to deal with the costs of paper forms.

"It's 2018 and we have the technology to provide secure and accessible electronic forms that make getting what you need to do, done at the Assessor's Office," Maricopa County Assessor Paul D. Petersen said.

The Assessor's Office will continue to expand the amount of services launched online as demand rises. Currently, the Assessor's Office also has teamed up with the Treasurer's Office to give taxpayers their Notices of Value and Tax Bills electronically through our e-Notice program.

To take advantage of these new digital forms, click on the "Adobe Sign Version " next to the old PDF forms in our Forms Library as shown below.

View Press Release

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Assessor's Office Donates Hard Hats to Habitat for Humanity

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Keeping safe on the job is the highest priority for the Maricopa County Assessor's Office and Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona.

"As our appraisers go out into the field, they often inspect new construction sites to add those to the property tax rolls," Assessor's Office Training Supervisor Tiffany Springan said, "Our team uses equipment such as hard hats and vests not only to keep themselves safe but also to communicate to the public that they are members of the Assessor's Office team."

As the County purchases newer equipment, the older equipment would be tossed aside.

Instead, Habitat for Humanity, the charity well-known for their construction of homes for low-income families, will receive the equipment to help continue their community service.

Habitat for Humanity has served Central Arizona since 1985 and has built or renovated more than 1,100 homes in Maricopa County and some parts of neighboring Pinal County.

Maricopa County Assessor Paul D. Petersen is honored to serve, "It is always a great thing when we can get the most use out of county equipment. The Assessor's Office strives to help Maricopa County residents in everything we do and to locate, identify and value all property in Maricopa County in the most efficient and effective way possible."