Montezuma County assessor says taxes rising because of 2025 valuations and school assessment rates, not 'doubling'

Montezuma County Assessor (Speaker 6) told the Board of County Commissioners that recent increases in property tax bills stem from 2025 revaluations and the separate assessment rate applied to schools, and not from a sudden doubling or tripling of taxes. "Property taxes are not doubling or tripling. They are increasing," the assessor said, urging residents with concerns to contact their state representatives about assessment-rate policy.

The assessor explained that the county handles assessed values while the state sets residential assessment rates used to calculate taxes. Commissioners discussed recent rate changes; one exchange noted last year's rate was reported at 6.95 percent. The assessor emphasized the state sets the yearly assessment rate and said it will be capped no higher than 7.5 percent going forward.

On operations, the assessor asked the board to reauthorize a continuing contract with Total Assessment Solutions for personal-property valuation of oil and gas assets and offered to bring the contract to the board the next day for signature. The assessor also reported software problems in the office that are preventing completion of balancing reports: staff have received hot patches and fixes but "we have no balancing reports" and the office cannot yet balance the tax roll, a fix was expected to be attempted that afternoon.

The assessor reminded commissioners the county performs revaluations in odd-numbered years (2025 was a reval year) and said individual assessed-value changes generally result from additions or deletions of property or improvements. The assessor indicated the office will continue normal processes for inspections and appraiser work to incorporate new information into the tax roll.

The board did not take formal action on these items during the workshop; the assessor said the contract matter would be handled the following day.