Douglas County Board of Equalization schedules May 20 hearing; resident protests referee appointments

The Douglas County Board of Equalization on May 13, 2025, approved the minutes from its May 6 meeting, set a May 20 date for hearings on certified assessment corrections that add property or increase assessed value, and passed a slate of resolutions labeled C through H by unanimous vote.

During public comment, resident Larry Storer urged the board to consider conflict‑of‑interest concerns in the selection of equalization referees and coordinators, saying many are connected to real‑estate companies and asking for more citizen members with no real‑estate ties.

The board took the procedural actions at the start of its session. A motion by Commissioner Morgan, seconded by Commissioner Rogers, approved the minutes and set Tuesday, May 20, 2025, as the hearing date for certified assessment corrections. The transcript records the motion as passing 6‑0.

When resolutions C through H and adjournment were presented as a bundled motion, Commissioner Rogers moved and Commissioner Morgan seconded; the board voted 6‑0 to approve the resolutions and proceed. The transcript shows the board solicited comment on the equalization resolutions before voting.

Larry Storer, identified in the record with a home address, told the board he would like his remarks entered into the record and voiced specific concerns about referee appointments. “I'd like to protest the possibility of a conflict of interest in the appointment of equalization of referees and coordinators from the standpoint that most every one of them are connected to real estate companies,” Storer said. He asked the board to appoint more citizens who are not real‑estate connected but knowledgeable about valuations so they could better represent citizens in disputes.

No changes to referee appointments or to the resolutions were recorded at the May 13 session. The board moved on after voting to adjourn the Board of Equalization portion of the meeting.