Birmingham AL Tax Appraisal increase 18% in one year

[Ann Howell]

We have a property in Birmingham (actually Center Point; Jefferson County) and just got a tax appraisal bill that valued the house 18% higher than last year. I've read some news that says that Jefferson County is using a new appraisal method and many values went way up. We want to protest the increase, and we have experience protesting tax appraisals. But we are not finding many good comps on Zillow to build our case. Any recommendations of other places to find comps? Or other news sources that talk about the actual increase of home values for Jefferson County? Other ideas?