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Citizens demand data after county's statement on commercial property valuations
Summary
Citizens told the board they spent hundreds of hours analyzing county data after commissioners flagged a potential 2023 commercial valuation discrepancy; they asked the county to release calculations and assumptions behind a cited $15,000,000 estimate and explain when officials first became aware of the issue.
Members of the public raised questions about a county statement concerning commercial and industrial property valuations during the 2023 reappraisal. Britney Elkin and other speakers said the county's earlier comments prompted volunteers to analyze public records and conclude residential properties were assessed near market while commercial properties lagged, and they asked the county to release its calculations and methodology.
Elkin said citizens' independent analysis found residential assessments about 95% of market value while commercial and industrial properties were closer to 67%; commercial properties selling for more than $2,000,000 were assessed at roughly 61% of market in their spreadsheet work. "If the county believes that our analysis is incorrect, then show us the work," Elkin told the board and requested the county publish the calculations, assumptions, and methodology referenced in the county's public statement. Commenters also asked when county officials first noticed the discrepancy and why taxpayers were not notified earlier.
