Bannock County Board of Equalization upholds one assessment, lowers two others

The Bannock County Board of Equalization reviewed multiple property appeals and issued three formal rulings affecting assessed values.

Commissioners upheld the assessor's valuation for the parcel listed as RPRP0C251900 after an owner complained the exterior condition and outbuildings were not reflected in the assessment. Appellant Tom Sanders said, "I own the building, listed under American Heating and Cooling and myself. There is no business operating there. So it's just a building for storage." He told the board contractors had estimated about $80,000 in exterior repairs. Assessor's Office appraiser Jason said the main structure is graded "poor condition" and that depreciation is capped at 80 percent: "we have that listed as a poor condition. And so that maxes out the depreciation that gets applied. So it maxes out at 80%." After discussion, a commissioner moved to uphold the assessor's value; the board voted in favor and the motion passed. The board told Sanders he will receive a written decision and that further appeal is available in district court or to the state board of appeals.

The board adjusted a second parcel after a purchaser presented an arm's-length sale. Tom Nelson, representing Concord Properties, presented a purchase-and-sale agreement showing a purchase price of $455,000 and said the buyers are making improvements to the site. Nelson said, "Me and my brother owned, Concord Properties. We just purchased this piece of ground, writing $455,000." Assessing staff said a single low sale alone does not always change mass-appraisal results, but commissioners said the sales agreement constituted strong evidence for an adjustment. Commissioner Moser moved to change the assessed value for parcel RPRCIGP000101 to $450,000; the motion carried.

On two parcels owned by the same appellant (listed in county files as RPRICP1001800 and RPRICP1001900), county staff reported an address correction for RPRICP1001900 and recommended lowering the improvement value for RPRICP1001800. Assessors said they inspected the dwelling and found it "stripped to the bones" and adjusted finishes and condition accordingly. The assessor recommended lowering the improvement value to $118,631 (from $185,000). Staff also explained how cell-phone towers are treated in assessments, saying there are typically three separate assessment components: land leased for the tower, the tower structure on a separate tax record, and the tower equipment as business personal property. The board approved the assessor's recommended changes.

All formal decisions announced at the meeting will be mailed to the appellants; the board reiterated that Idaho law places the burden of proof on taxpayers seeking to change assessments and that parties may appeal BOE decisions in district court or with the state board of appeals.