INDIANAPOLIS -- A massive backlog on appeals of property tax assessments is costing Marion County homeowners hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The backlogged cases now number in the tens of thousands, with even the most basic appeals taking years to resolve, 6News' Norman Cox reported.

More than 32,000 appeals by homeowners who claim their property has been assessed too high are now pending in Marion County, while more than 12,000 have been pending for more than three years.

Marion County Assessor Greg Bowes told 6News that the problem built up for years while the township assessors were still in charge of much of the work, and that his staff had to first work to get current year assessments done after the job was consolidated at the county level.

"The first thing we wanted to do was get our assessments done and get them out to the taxpayers on time," Bowes said.

That has left homeowners like southwest side resident Bill Runion in a bind. When he appealed last fall, he was told the claim wouldn't be heard for two years.

"I'm assessed for over $90,000, when I purchased the property two years ago for just less than $50,000," he said.

Runion said he believes the board that hears appeals should meet more than just once a month.

But Bowes said that's not feasible with his current staff and pre-meeting preparation.

"It's difficult for us on the staff to keep a pipeline ready for them to work on because we have to do the preliminary work and talk with the taxpayers and review the assessments," he said.

Bowes said he has asked for more people, but that his requests have been turned down. He said taxpayers whose assessments are reduced will get refunds with 4 percent interest.

"We tell them we're trying to get to them as fast as we can," he said. "We're working on the oldest ones first."