Contract Change Raises Questions in McDowell Revaluation

Property inspections are underway across McDowell County as officials prepare for the county’s next required property revaluation, a process that will determine updated tax values for more than 32,000 parcels.

County Manager Ashley Wooten said the county has begun field work for the 2027 reappraisal, which North Carolina counties must conduct at least once every eight years to ensure property values reflect current market conditions.

Speaking March 10 with WCAB Signal Hill Media sister station WBRM, Wooten said inspectors are now visiting properties throughout the county to verify records and identify any changes to homes, land and other improvements.

“Right now they’re literally looking at all of those parcels,” he said. “They’re getting out of the car, doing the visit and making sure what we have on record matches what’s actually out in the community.”

Officials say the field inspection phase is roughly halfway complete and is expected to continue for about six more months.

After inspections are finished, the process will move into the data analysis phase. Appraisers review recent property sales and other market indicators to estimate the fair market value of each parcel.

“The idea is to have the value in our system match the fair market value of the property as closely as possible,” he said.

Property owners are expected to receive notices of their updated values roughly a year from now. Residents will have opportunities to challenge or appeal their valuations if they believe the estimates are incorrect.

The revaluation work is being conducted by a contractor hired by the county, but questions have emerged about the paperwork tied to that agreement.

McDowell County originally selected Virginia-based Pearson’s Appraisal Service to conduct the work. During the contracting process, however, the company was sold to Vision Government Solutions, a Massachusetts firm that provides mass appraisal services for governments across much of the eastern United States.

Wooten said the ownership change occurred while the contract was being finalized in late 2024 and that the county later updated its paperwork to reflect the new ownership.

However, documents obtained by WCAB News show the original company name crossed out by hand and replaced with the new firm’s name.

It remains unclear from the records whether the contract was formally amended or reissued after the ownership change.

Wooten said the matter has since been reviewed and clarified. 

“We’ve made sure everything on record is clean and clear so we can move forward,” he said. WCAB News did not find any press releases or public statements in writing to support that on the county's website.

Revaluations can affect how property taxes are calculated, though the process itself does not set tax rates. Tax rates are determined each year separately by the McDowell County Board of Commissioners during the county’s budget process.

As inspections continue, residents may see appraisal staff working in neighborhoods throughout the county. Officials say the visits are intended only to verify property characteristics and collect the information needed to complete the appraisal process.

The updated property values are scheduled to take effect for the 2027 tax year.