Bernalillo County Assessor Damian Lara interviewed Chief Appraiser Fabian Montoya on the office's Value Added segment to summarize a 15‑year historical review of property values and explain how owners can contest valuations.

"It's no secret that like in other parts of the country, real world issues like drug addiction, crime, and the unhoused epidemic affects property values here in Bernalillo County," Lara said, framing the study's purpose as ensuring fair and equitable treatment across neighborhoods. Montoya said the research confirmed that markets fluctuate and that factors such as documented crime, loitering, homelessness and supply‑and‑demand shifts influence market values.

Montoya described the study's uses and methods, saying assessors use three approaches to value and rely on sales‑ratio studies. "We perform a sales ratio study. So currently, right now, we're working for our 2026 tax year. So we're obtaining and collecting all of the 2025 information to set those values for the 2026 tax year," Montoya said.

The office presented the findings to peers at the International Association of Assessing Offices, Montoya added. In follow‑up case studies of areas experiencing crime, he emphasized that "people need to report the crime. So if crime is unreported, it's undocumented, then we don't really know what is going on with that market." He said the assessor's office coordinates with law enforcement and uses reported incidents to determine whether a local market is increasing or decreasing and to make valuation adjustments.

Montoya explained a practice the office calls "delineation": when research shows a distinct market within a larger area, the assessor can create a separate tax neighborhood and set its market differently. "It would be unfair to value that brand new neighborhood similarly to the houses that have been there for 30 years," he said, noting this can apply to new subdivisions or long‑established areas that experience different market pressures. He also described adjustments for obsolescence — for example, properties adjacent to railroad tracks — when external changes postdate an established neighborhood.

On contesting values, the office gave a clear procedural outline. Property owners have 30 days after receiving a notice of value to file a free protest with the Bernalillo County Assessor's Office, Montoya said: "They would have 30 days to come into our office, and they can file an appeal free of charge. It is their due process." If owners miss that administrative protest window, Montoya said they may appeal to the Second Judicial District Court; he cited a deadline "around January 9 of every year," which he described as about 60 days from the tax bill due date.

Assessor Lara closed the segment by offering assistance and contact information for property owners seeking help. He directed residents to call (505) 222‑3700, visit the assessor's page at bernco.gov/assessor, or visit the Assessor's Office at 415 Silver Avenue SW in downtown Albuquerque.

The segment underlined two practical points for Bernalillo County homeowners: (1) documented local conditions such as crime and homelessness can be reflected in valuations when supported by data, and (2) owners should act promptly if they disagree with a notice of value — filing a protest within 30 days is the first step; judicial appeal deadlines follow administrative procedures.

The Assessor's Office said it is compiling 2025 sales information now to set values for the 2026 tax year and encouraged owners with questions to contact staff for help.