Uintah County ratifies 2025 tax sale, approves tax-exempt property list and authorizes small refund

The Uintah County Commission on June 3 approved several tax-related items: the county's 2025 list of tax-exempt properties, ratified the May 2025 tax sale and authorized a $30.06 refund for a corrected business personal-property filing.

Clerk-Auditor Mike Wilkins presented the 2025 list of exempt properties and said most entries were the same as the prior year. "They're the same as they were last year as far as the ones that have reapplied," Wilkins said, noting one change: Unity Place was removed from the list because it was sold to Mountain Country Home Solutions, which "also qualify[s]."

Wilkins also reported on the county's annual tax sale, held in the commission chambers in May, and recommended ratification under the county's statutory authority. He said parcels offered at public auction were sold to the highest bidder "under provision section 59 2 13 51.1 Utah code." The commission was told tax-serial number O40180043 sold to Gary Showalter Trust for $622.30; serial number 050580254 sold to Branson Buckalew for $851.02; and serial number O558255 sold to Branson Buckalew for $851.02. Wilkins said the 10-day statutory protest period had passed and staff recommended issuance of tax deeds to the buyers.

County Assessor Danette Brooks requested approval of a $30.06 refund for tax year 2025 on a business personal-property account after the taxpayer deleted an asset from its filed inventory. "After the deletion of the asset, there was a refund of $30.06 and the business is requesting that refund," Brooks said. The commission voted to authorize the refund.

The commission voted to approve the 2025 tax-exempt properties list and to ratify the May 2025 tax sale. Commissioners directed staff to prepare tax deeds for the new owners as required by statute.

What happens next: staff will issue tax deeds to the purchasers named in the ratified sale and process the approved refund to the business owner on record.