Community Corner

County Assessor Encourages Tornado Victim's to Report Damage for Potential Tax Break

St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman is encouraging homeowners to call his office at 314-615-4230 and report severe tornado damage to their property.

St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman wants victim's of Wednesday's tornado to be aware of their rights and know that they don't have to pay a high tax bill. 

Zimmerman has instructed his staff to locate all homes in St. Louis County that sustained severe damage from the storm so the true value of the home can be reviewed or altered for the 2013 assessment period. Missouri law allow the assessors to adjust the values of residential property rendered uninhabitable by a natural disaster, even though it may occur during an assessment cycle. 

“Someone who is displaced or whose home has suffered severe damage by a tornado, should not have to worry about an unfair tax bill," Zimmerman said in a press release. "Our office is committed to doing everything within our power to make sure victims of this disaster are treated fairly and compassionately."

Find out what's happening in Hazelwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Zimmerman's staff will be out performing inspections, however, there is no need for property owners to wait for staff to come to them. Zimmerman is encouraging homeowners to call his office at 314-615-4230 and report severe tornado damage to their property. Zimmerman asks that those property owners please contact his office and arrange for a field inspection by the Assessor’s staff.

This year is a state mandated reassessment year, owners of real property in St. Louis County whose valuation went up from the 2011 reassessment, will receive a Change of Assessment Notice in the mail, which shows them the 2011 value and the new 2013 value of their property. Homeowners can expect that notice in June.

Find out what's happening in Hazelwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The assessor's office is making the effort to find and adjust properties before the notices are mailed, but some property owners may still receive a notice showing the 2013 appraised value of their property before any tornado damage occurred.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Hazelwood