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Custer County assessor seeks outside contract after Attorney General opinion limits property access
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Summary
Assessor Elise Taylor told the Custer County Board that an Attorney General opinion limiting assessor access to private property has hampered in-person valuations; she will contract Central Plains Valuation to complete some assessments and present the contract at the next meeting, with costs covered by existing assessor funds and the 2026–27 budget.
Assessor Elise Taylor told the Custer County Board of Supervisors on March 31 that an Attorney General opinion saying county assessors are not exempt from trespassing charges has made it difficult for her office to complete in-person property assessments. She said the office has been struggling to get completed "consent to access" forms and has been working with County Attorney Steve Bowers on a form to address the issue.
Taylor told the board she will contract with Central Plains Valuation to perform some property valuations so assessment work can move forward. She said the county will use funds already available in the assessor's office to cover the contract and that any additional cost will be included in the 2026–27 budget. The board directed Taylor to present the proposed contract at the next board meeting.
Why it matters: Accurate property valuations are the basis for property tax rolls and local revenue distribution. Taylor and the county attorney framed the contract and consent-form work as steps to maintain statutory assessment responsibilities while respecting property-rights and trespass concerns.
The board did not take further action on the assessor's contract at the March 31 meeting. County Attorney Steve Bowers was noted as assisting on the consent-to-access language; no final contract was presented for approval at this meeting.
The item is expected to return to the board for formal consideration when the assessor presents a recommended contract.