I just spoke with the Fulton County Assessors office. According to them this is NOT a mistake. Are they kidding me? They gave me 4 comps - apple to oranges - I am just flabbergasted - in my mind this is government sanctioned extortion............
Told me to appeal - well you betcha I'm appealing, for all the good that will probably do me.
So the rest of the country has property values in the toilet yet our little corner of the world has gone up over 50%? That would make it the highest gain in the nation by over 25% - things that make you go hmmmmmm............

Our assessment went down by $10K . . .

My assessment went down by many thousands. It takes approx. 1 yr after the downturn to get the assessments out. Be sure to appeal. And then be grateful you have home that still has value.

That's just the thing Janet - there is no way on God's green earth that we would get anywhere near what the county values our property at - they can say it's worth 10 million - doesn't help me at all.
This downturn has been in effect for several years -

I own a couple of rentals in Roswell. Tow of them were exactly the same as last year and one went up 75%. How can homes all within a mile of each have this sort of disparity? Looks like we need to get a group together and stop this ... so I created a facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/StopFultonCountyTaxAssessors/462188247131552 to help organize. Please go "Like" it if you feel strongly enough to try and do something about it.

Thanks Thomas...will check your page out. Might be a good place for folks to go to get/give info on appeals etc......

Did everyone commenting here file their Homestead exemptions for 2012?

Scott, there wasn't a homestead exemption involved in my case last year. The value simply doubled this year.

We filed for homestead when we first purchased this house several years back, so we are good..........

I got my notice yesterday and it didn't change from last year. I'm an Alpharetta owner.

Please take my advice and forget an Appeal.
Fulton County assessors will simply deny it and you will be stuck with their assessment for another year.
I recommend that you go immediately request a hearing before the Fulton County “Board of Equalization". Mailing address is:
Fulton County Board of equalization, 141 Pryor Street, S.W., Atlanta Ga. 30303
It is a very simple process. You simply request a hearing before the Board of Equalization and in your appeal you state specifically what you think your property is worth. The board usually consists of 3 regular citizens. They are just like you & I. You will be given approx. 15 minutes to present your case. Simply start by write them a letter and requesting a hearing. It is time well spent.
Because your tax bill is for tax year 2012, when you go before the board you will have to provide evidence from home sales in your area) in the previous year 2011, not the current year 2013. Or you can present an appraisal by a state certified property appraiser (which could cost you around $300-500).
A representative from the Fulton County Assessor’s office has to appear before the Board to justify their numbers and if those numbers are so far out of line as you indicate it a no brainer.
Personally, I was denied twice thru the appeals process before resorting to a hearing before the Board. My property assessed value has dropped by 13%. And it went down again this year because they know I’m watching them.

Thats good advice Lee, but it's an individual appeal process and I believe we need to stand up as a community and stop this for everyone that isn't fortunate enough to have the time to fight this through the Board of Equalization. It's insane for them to double property values given the state the economy and the real estate market and we need to let them know this is not acceptable. I'm hoping enough people feel as strongly as I do that we are able to get the government to back down.

I opened my tax bill two days ago and was appalled that it had AGAIN risen approximately 15% this year just like last year. My neighbor had called and said his had done the same thing, almost to the exact percentage. So it looks like they pick a cluster of homes and say, ah, let's make these X percentage higher. But, you know, it's Fulton County. They have the following belief, "You can't fight City Hall." When we became Johns Creek, I was shocked at the additional tax assessment because we know had a name other than Alpharetta. And the mayor said for the first two years, "Use it or lose it."

I have the opposite and rather humiliating problem. Our townhome has dropped in value $17000. It is now $8000 less than when I bought it in 1999. Our community is quite attractive and well kept with an active homeowners association. There have been some foreclosures and short sales. Some were sold at lower prices, but we work hard to keep up our subdivision. You would never see any sign of a declining community. This is not the way I wanted my taxes lowered.

I appealed to the Board of Equalization two years ago and won. My value went down again last year. However, this year it is all of sudden worth 50% more! Think the bank will agree and up my line of credit? Not gonna happen!

I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry: My condo's value dropped $25,000, according to Fulton County assessors. The good news is, of course, a lower tax bill. The bad news is it seems like I'll never get out from underneath this mortgage.

Mine went down 20K, the same as it did last year. I live in a neighborhood in downtown Alpharetta. Pretty soon my car will be worth more than my house.