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Ada County authorizes contingency funds to pay expert in Walmart valuation appeal
Summary
The Ada County Board of Commissioners authorized use of contingency funds — approximately $75,000 — to pay an expert witness in pending litigation between Ada County and Walmart over property valuation. The case is set for trial in April; the action passed on a unanimous voice vote.
The Ada County Board of Commissioners voted to authorize use of contingency funds to cover litigation fees, including payment for an expert witness, in the pending court appeal between Ada County and Walmart over property valuation. County counsel told the board the case is set for trial in April and the estimated amount requested for the expert through trial is approximately $75,000.
A county representative summarized the history: the valuation was previously contested at the state Board of Tax Appeals (BTA), and Ada County is appealing to district court. The board was told that while many recent BTA decisions have affirmed the county’s values, this particular Walmart matter reached a different result at BTA and is now being pursued in court. The county representative described the expert as someone with prior litigation experience against Walmart whose analyses have prevailed in earlier cases.
A commissioner moved to authorize the use of contingency funds to pay litigation fees in the pending proceedings between Ada County and Walmart and to authorize the chair to sign the documents; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.
The county representative said the potential recovery from the litigation would exceed the cost of the litigation. The board recorded no further restrictions at the time of the vote.
