The number of small-home owners challenging their property-tax bills spiked last year after the Finance Department decided not to include detailed explanations of how the bills were calculated, according to city officials.
With taxes up and property values down, 1,902 homeowners filed appeals with the Tax Commission. That’s up 37 percent from 1,389 in 2008. Only 253 appeals were granted.
Elected officials whose districts include one- and two-family homes say the property-tax system is difficult to navigate.
“We explain to them about the process, and then people are dissuaded from challenging,” said City Councilman James Oddo (R-SI).