Property Assessor News

The Knox County Property Assessor’s Office is making a big change designed to bring more fairness, accuracy, and stability to property assessments and taxes: starting in 2026, the county will shift from a 4-year to a 2-year property reappraisal cycle.

What does this mean for you as a homeowner or property owner? Here's the key message:

More frequent property value updates do not mean higher taxes.

Why the Change?

Reappraisals are how the county keeps property values aligned with the real estate market. Under the current 4-year cycle, property values can change a lot between updates, especially in a fast-growing area like ours. That often leads to large jumps in property values—and worry about tax increases.

By switching to a 2-year reappraisal cycle:

• Property values will be adjusted more frequently, but in smaller amounts.
• It will be much less likely for a property to experience sudden, steep value increases.
• Your property taxes will only increase if your home’s value rises by 40% or more—which is less likely with smaller, more regular updates.

No Surprise Tax Hikes

Even when property values go up, your tax rate is adjusted to keep the total tax revenue the same. This means the county will not collect more money overall just because values increased. Every time we complete a reappraisal, the county sets a new certified tax rate that keeps things revenue neutral.

This change helps make sure everyone is paying their fair share—no more, no less—based on the most current market information.

A Fairer, More Balanced System

This new system also makes assessments more equitable across the board:

• More accurate property values mean a fairer tax burden for all homeowners and businesses.
• The county won’t need to rely on the state’s “sales ratio” anymore—a tool used in part to even things out when values are out-of-date.
• This change also improves how resources are allocated across the county, making it easier to support both new developments and existing neighborhoods.

Bottom Line

• Frequent reappraisals = fewer surprises
• Tax rate adjusts to prevent county-wide tax increases
• Only major home value spikes (40%+) could lead to higher taxes
• Helps keep things fair for everyone—homeowners, businesses, and the community

At the end of the day, this move is about accuracy, fairness, and transparency. For more information, visit or contact us M-F, 8 am - 4:30 pm.