Equalization director: assessment notices to print; campground improvement values drove appraisal increases

Ria Crane, Mead County director of equalization, told commissioners the office is finalizing assessment notices and they will be printed and mailed this week.

Crane said staff completed commercial appraisals that show "significant increases in campground values" tied largely to improvements and hookups that had not previously been recorded for tax purposes. She recommended campground owners review their notices and, if they have questions, meet with county appraiser John to review how the increases were calculated. Crane said land values for campgrounds were not revalued this cycle because of time constraints and will be reviewed in the next cycle.

Crane also described Meade County’s current imagery program: the county purchases aerial imagery on a three-year cycle (2025 is the scheduled flight year). She said the office owns a county drone but has not used drones for assessment work; instead the office prefers high-resolution aerial imagery that can be used across many applications. A public commenter raised a draft bill in the state legislature that would restrict assessors’ use of drones; Crane said she believed that bill had failed in the legislature, and reiterated the county has not made drones part of routine assessment practice.

Crane reminded commissioners that boards of equalization must open on April 8 following the county commission meeting and asked commissioners to provide any April dates they cannot meet so scheduling for hearing appointments can be set. She said staff will send prospective appointment dates in March.

Ending: County staff urged permittees and property owners with questions about assessment changes, particularly campground owners, to contact the assessor’s office for a review.