Cochise County supervisors approve settlement in Walmart tax appeal

The Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 Tuesday, Sept. 30, to approve a proposed settlement resolving a large property-tax appeal filed by Walmart Stores Inc.

The vote followed a brief executive session called under Arizona Revised Statutes §38-431.03(A)(3) and (4), which permit public bodies to receive legal advice and to instruct attorneys on pending litigation. Board members did not disclose the terms of the settlement in open session.

A supervisor moved to approve “the proposed settlement of the large tax appeal Walmart Stores Inc versus Cochise County, TX 2023-000304, now pending in Arizona Tax Court, a division of the Superior Court in and for Maricopa County.” The motion was seconded. The board then voted “aye,” and the motion passed by a 3-0 tally.

The meeting record shows the board convened in the Board of Supervisors Executive Conference Room on Melody Lane and briefly recessed to executive session before returning to open session. Roll call identified Supervisors Crosby (District 1), Gomez (District 2) and Antinori (District 3) as present. County staff in the room or on the record included the clerk (identified as Miss Lowenhaim) and staff members listed as Casey, Whitehead, Leyendecker, Sharon Gomen and Dylan Hindell. At the conclusion of the vote, the meeting time was announced as 10:03 a.m.

The transcript and public remarks did not provide the settlement amount or other terms; those details were not specified in open session. The board noted no further public action on the item at the meeting. The supervisors announced they would meet next for a library district committee meeting in a room next door within minutes of the adjournment.

No additional motions, amendments, or conditions tied to the settlement were recorded in the public portion of the meeting.