County assessors, treasurers tell committee relief measures have created confusion and extra workload

Dixie Huxable, Converse County Assessor, told the Joint Revenue Committee she heard "a lot" of confusion from taxpayers after recent statutory changes and that assessors worked to put clear notices on tax statements and to assist residents at counters.

"What has happened in in the last couple years with property tax relief really has taxpayers confused," Huxable said, urging the Legislature to avoid further frequent changes that would restart outreach and reeducation efforts. She said counties tried to standardize notices and use tax statements and notice-of-value mailings to reach property owners, but printing formats and vendors created variation in how prominent the message appears on a bill.

Joel Shaw, Converse County treasurer, said timing, similar forms and overlapping deadlines made the refund program and exemption applications easy for taxpayers to confuse. He described large increases in counter visits and in 2024's program participation compared with earlier years. Shaw said many taxpayers pay by mortgage escrow and therefore may not see an immediate change; he asked for clearer, coordinated messaging from state and county partners.

Huxable and other assessors said county offices had to reassign staff from fieldwork, add overtime and run extra counters or outreach events to meet high demand. Assessors said standardizing application windows, clarifying portal availability, and ensuring county systems can itemize exemption types on bills would reduce taxpayer calls and appeals.

Committee members asked assessors to propose procedural fixes in the interim and to report recommendations after the assessors' summer meeting; staff and the department of revenue agreed to work with counties on processes and consistent notice language.