Stokes County Commissioners approve 2009 revaluation schedule; Property values to increase by ten percent

(By Leslie Bray Evans, The Stokes News) - When property owners in Stokes County go to their mailboxes in February, they may receive some unwelcome news. Depending upon where they live, their property values may have increased by 10 percent, meaning higher property taxes in the long run. “Not all neighborhoods will increase,” stated Stokes County Tax Administrator Jake Oakley. “Some may decrease.”

This news was delivered to the Stokes County Board of Commissioners at their regular afternoon meeting on Monday. Members of the board immediately had concerns. “During the campaign this past year,” said Commissioner Jimmy Walker, “I had quite a few people mention re-val.” Chairman of the Board Leon Inman chimed in to agree with Walker, who continued, “How do we explain that it went up 10 percent?”