Letter to the Editor: Assessor information

To all Rio Blanco County taxpayers:
As directed by state law, the county assessor is responsible for valuing all property in the county. This year is a reappraisal year for all counties in Colorado; and, all properties have been revalued using sales for an 18-month period ending June 30, 2010. Most values in Rio Blanco County remained steady or increased slightly. Overall, the west end of the county saw most of the increase due to an increase in sale prices for this 18-month reappraisal period. This trend has been seen throughout the western slope.
You will receive your Notice of Valuation around May 1, 2011. This year, the Notices of Valuation will be printed on post card size stock thus saving the county a significant amount in printing and mailing charges.
The value on your Notice of Valuation will be used in the calculation of your property taxes for the 2012 tax bill you receive from the county treasurer in January 2012. The actual value of your property is multiplied by an assessment rate before taxes are computed. Residential property has been assessed at 7.96 percent since 2003. Vacant land and commercial property are assessed at 29 percent. The different rates are required by the Constitution; and, they stabilize the proportion of the tax burden paid by residential property owners. Colorado procedural and statistical standards for mass appraisal, and equity of assessment for real property, are some of the most stringent in the United States. Colorado assessor offices are audited yearly by the State of Colorado.
Your property taxes support many of the entities (schools, municipalities, fire districts, cemetery districts, etc.) governed by local citizen-elected boards.  These entities provide services to Rio Blanco County citizens.
If you wish to appeal your classification or value, Colorado law requires the county assessor to hear objections to real property valuations beginning no later than May 2, 2011.  Appeals must be postmarked or submitted in person to the Assessor no later than June 1, 2011.
If you have any questions, please call (970)878-9410.
Renae T. Neilson
Rio Blanco County Assessor