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Board approves county board of equalization hearing officer recommendations after review
Summary
San Miguel County commissioners approved the county board of equalization (CBOE) hearing officer recommendations and related assessor stipulations and withdrawals. Staff reported 668 initial real property protests at the assessor level, 61 appeals to the CBOE, with 71% granted in part/adjusted/stipulated and 21% denied.
San Miguel County approved the county board of equalization hearing officer recommendations on appeals from property owners challenging assessed values.
County paralegal Nancy Willis and Assessor Sarah Enders presented the results of this year’s appeals process. Enders said the assessor’s office handled 668 real property protests at the initial level and 61 appeals to the CBOE (about 9% of the assessor‑level protests). Of the 61 appeals, the hearing officer granted, adjusted or stipulated 43 (71%), denied 21% and recorded approximately 5% as withdrawals.
Enders noted the hearing officer’s writeups sometimes lacked explanatory detail, which made it hard for the assessor’s staff to understand the basis for differing recommendations; she described that as a statewide timing and resourcing issue rather than a local administrative problem. Willis said the hearing officer was an independent contractor hired to hear appeals and recommend outcomes after taking evidence from both the assessor and petitioners.
The board voted to approve the hearing officer recommendations and the assessor’s presented stipulations and withdrawals. The motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: The action finalizes the local administrative level of property assessment appeals; property owners who remain dissatisfied can pursue further options elsewhere (binding arbitration, district court, or the state Board of Assessment Appeals) within statutorily prescribed timelines.
Ending: Commissioners thanked assessor staff and Nancy Willis for processing a large set of appeals and said they expect staff to continue refining the process and clarify future hearing officer reporting if possible.
