SANDPOINT - Assessed values are on the climb in the Elmira and Samuels areas, which is giving landowners a case of sticker shock.

"It more than doubled my net taxable property value," said Bill Williams, who lives off the grid in a modest home with an outhouse and a pump well.

Williams' assessed value climbed from $17,958 to $43,483, sums which factor in a homeowner's exemption for which he is eligible.

Williams said his property is being lumped in with other nearby properties that have upscale homes with all the amenities.

"I'm not there," Williams said, referring to the more modern homes.

Jessie Sheldon also saw a hike in her assessed value. She does not dispute the assessment of her home, but is taking issue with the assessed value assigned to her land, which had been valued at $35,000.

"Within a year's time it went to $73,000," said Sheldon.

Ken Bocksh, a senior deputy at the Bonner County Assessor's Office, said the increases in assessed value are because those areas have been undervalued for some time. The county used updated multiple listing service data and sales prices voluntarily disclosed by home buyers to determine new assessed values.

"The sales indicated that we had some problems up north. We were way under-assessing up there and we had to fix it to get to market value," Bocksh said.

Idaho law requires properties to be assessed at market value.

"We're getting a lot of calls from that area because it's such a dramatic change for them," said Bocksh.

Bocksh said he sympathizes with the landowners who saw their assessed values - and their property taxes - climb. However, he notes that because of the undervaluation, other landowners in the county were carrying more of the tax burden than they should have.

"What we're working hard to do is get that market value because it provides fairness and uniformity," he said.

Sheldon said she intends to appeal her assessed value to the county commission's Board of Equalization. Williams said he is considering appealing his assessed value.

"I figure over a three-year period, it will probably pay for itself," said Williams.

Sheldon said she was provided parcel numbers that served as the justification for the increased assessed value. She said about half of the values can't be verified because the sale date and prices weren't disclosed.

"The half that I was able to verify were well below what my land was valued at," said Sheldon.

Sheldon found two properties within a 5-mile radius that were both valued under $50,000.

"The county really shouldn't be able double or quadruple property taxes within one year's time. It creates too much of a hardship and I kind of believe some legislation should be in place to prevent that," she said.

As of Wednesday, 18 landowners have filed tax appeals with the Board of Equalization, according to Darcey Smith, a deputy clerk for the county commission. However, Smith said landowners are known to file an appeal on the day of the June 22 deadline.