MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shelby County properties are being re-appraised in 2025, meaning property tax rates or real estate values could increase, and the county's property assessor announced he wants to meet with homeowners to speak with them about the reappraisal process.
Shelby County Property Assessor Melvin Burgess announced two public forums in September, saying he wants to educate homeowners, stakeholders and the public on the 2025 reappraisal process.
You can attend the following meetings:
- Monday, Sept. 16 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Benjamin Hooks Library - 3030 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38111.
- Thursday, Sept. 19 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the McFarland Community Center - 4955 Cottonwood Rd., Memphis, TN 38118.
"We are committed to transparency and community engagement throughout the reappraisal process," Burgess said in a statement. "These public forums will provide a platform for open discussion and ensure that everyone understands the process and its implications."
What reappraisal means for property taxes
The 2025 countywide reappraisal is the first such reappraisal since 2021.
In an August news release, Burgess said recent data shows property values increasing, which could, in turn, mean a “significant increase in tax assessments” for homeowners.
However when ABC24 spoke with Burgess on the property tax hike in early September, he said that was a mistake, and property tax rates should actually go down.
According to Tennessee state law, if property values in the county do go up, then the property tax rate has to go down so that the county gets the same amount of property tax revenue. The county government is not allowed to turn a profit from the reappraisal.
Burgess said that, during the 2021 reappraisal, they saw property values in vulnerable areas like New Chicago, Orange Mound and South Memphis stay the same or go down.
The same could happen again during the 2025 reappraisal, he says.
Burgess said the reasons are due to the market value and what the property in the area around homes is like.
“You notice in some of our distressed areas, you’ll notice there are no grocery stores, there are no banks or there are no shopping centers, no Home Depots,” Burgess said.
Burgess is encouraging all homeowners to appeal any property values they don’t think are right in the 2025 reappraisal.
For more information on Shelby County tax appraisals, visit www.assessormelvinburgess.com.
