COVAX County Assessor Christy Graham reviews property valuation and maintenance plan

Colfax County's Assessor Christy Graham presented a comprehensive property valuation and maintenance plan during the commission meeting on May 13, 2025, highlighting significant progress and challenges in the county's assessment processes. Graham reported a successful evaluation by state officials, who praised her office's performance, noting that the assessment review lasted only ten minutes, a testament to their efficiency.

Graham addressed concerns regarding mobile home tax collections, revealing that her office actively removes mobile homes from the tax roll if they have not paid taxes for over ten years. However, she clarified that some properties are removed sooner if they have outstanding taxes for three to four years. This proactive approach aims to maintain a healthy collection rate, which currently stands at 96%.

In addition to the valuation plan, Graham shared that her office has received 135 protests from residents questioning recent increases in property values. She explained that these adjustments are necessary to reflect current land values, which have seen a rise. The meeting also touched on the increase in veterans' exemptions, which rose from $4,000 to $10,000, but Graham reassured the commission that the overall impact on the county's finances would be manageable.

The meeting also included a discussion on the cancellation of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for financial audit services due to a lack of responses from firms. Miss Avila, who addressed the commission, indicated that as long as the contract remains under $60,000, only one quote is necessary, alleviating the need for a new RFP.

Overall, the meeting underscored the county's commitment to effective property management and financial oversight, with Graham's updates reflecting a proactive stance in addressing community concerns and maintaining fiscal responsibility.