An administrative hearing in Vermillion County on Oct. 23, 2025, upheld the county assessor’s 2025 property assessment for a parcel at 6294 North Stateline Road in Cayuga after the property owner did not appear and no appraisal or sale evidence was presented to the board.

The hearing, conducted by Pat Ritchie, considered petition number 83-005-25-0-5-00005 for parcel number 83-03-31-200-001-005. The assessor’s current assessment reported land at $86,600 and improvements at $155,800 for a total assessed value of $242,400 for the 2025 assessment year.

County staff said they attempted to contact owner Elizabeth White ahead of the hearing; staff told the panel White missed a preliminary hearing and that staff had left voicemail and earlier sent assessment information. No appraisal or market-sale evidence was offered at the Oct. 23 session to support a change in valuation.

A motion was made and seconded to leave the assessment unchanged; the panel voted in favor and the motion passed. The board directed the assessor to provide the owner with the appropriate appeal form (referred to during the hearing as a Form 115), and staff noted the owner retains the right to file a further appeal of the decision.

The hearing record reflects that representatives for an interest identified in the transcript as "Pila Boa" — including Pat Ritchie (noted as president), Sandra Whitaker and Brad Ringwall — appeared for the petition; the property owner, Elizabeth White, was absent. The hearing was limited to about 20 minutes, as stated at the outset by the officer conducting the session.

No further evidence, appraisal, or witness testimony was entered that would change the assessment during the hearing, and the panel stated that hardship claims alone do not change assessed value absent supporting evidence. The Oct. 23 action preserves the assessor’s 2025 valuation pending any appeal filed by the taxpayer.

Details from the hearing, including contact attempts and the county’s next-step paperwork, will be part of the record available through Vermillion County’s public records and the county’s posted recordings.