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Residents press board over retroactive assessments and lost tax relief; officials point to commissioner authority and appeals process
Summary
Two residents raised separate but related complaints about recent tax assessments and loss of tax-relief eligibility; board members said assessment authority rests with the independently elected Commissioner of the Revenue and advised appeals to the commissioner's office, the Board of Equalization, or private counsel while offering staff review of the ordinance.
Two residents used the public-comment period to raise concerns about property-tax practices and changes to tax-relief procedures.
Robert Anderson said he received a letter adding supplemental taxes retroactive to 2022–2025 and asked whether the Commissioner of the Revenue had authority to make those assessments. Board members responded that assessments and tax calculations are the responsibility of the independently elected commissioner and advised that redress pathways include the commissioner's office, the Board of Equalization (which the board appoints members to) or retaining an attorney for a formal challenge.
Separately, Mary Ellen Stanley said she believed her taxes were due Dec. 3, completed tax-relief paperwork and later discovered she had lost the tax relief because the due date had changed; her bill increased substantially and she paid using a credit card. She said a conversation with Commissioner Laura Walsh yielded no relief. Stanley told the board, "... taking all of our tax relief away and charging me it almost 1000 dollars, I said, that's that's hard to swallow." Board members noted that the county ordinance removes tax-relief eligibility when payment is late and agreed to have staff review the ordinance and report back on whether the ordinance or state law allows any flexibility.
The board did not reverse any assessments during the meeting but offered to provide guidance on available appeals and to have staff look into whether an ordinance change is warranted going forward.
