Home values fluctuate yearly and many area counties have seen an influx of personal property tax increases across the region. Clay County is similar, with property assessments rising upwards of 30% in some areas. Clay County Assessor Tracy Baldwin and Real Estate Supervisor Joe Mezzacasa spoke about the increases, explaining even though other counties have gone up 30% across the board, Clay County did things a little differently. “Not every house goes up the same rate,” Baldwin said. “You and your neighbor will not always be equal.” While people have experienced an assessment increase in property value, Clay County uses the mass appraisal approach. This approach determines value through a systematic appraisal by collecting data and simultaneously applying the results to a group of properties. Baldwin pointed out Clay County attempts to stay away from an overall property tax increase and noted there have been homes that have increased and some that decreased with this year’s…