Letters To The Editor, Meeker

Letter to the Editor: Assessor responds to mill levy questions

Dear Editor:
This is an open letter to our county’s taxpayers.
I am writing this letter to the editor to answer questions concerning the RE-1 Meeker School District mill levy ballot question, 3A. Below are some questions that have been brought to our attention:

Q: How much will the mill levy increase my taxes?
A: This is an unknown number because we do not know what mill levy increase the RE-1 Meeker School District will be asking for and we do not know what the other taxing districts’ mill levies will be. Mill levies are certified by all tax districts to the Rio Blanco County Board of Commissioners, which approves the levies by Dec. 20
Q: Is it true that the Eastern Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District has paid off its bond, which will offset the increase in the RE-1 School District’s mill levy override? Is it also true that I will not see an increase in taxes?
A: This will not be true for property owners of more than 40 acres as they currently do not pay into the Eastern Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District. If all mill levies remain the same, except for the recreation district lowering its mill levy and the school increasing the mill levy, owners of more than 40 acres will see an increase.
Q: Why can’t you tell me right now what my tax amount will be?
A: By Colorado law (CRS 39-1-111(5)), we recertify the value to the taxing districts by Dec. 10. The commissioners approve levies by Dec. 20 (39-1-111(1)(2)). We can give an estimated tax amount using the current mill levy and an estimated increase in mill levy for the RE-1 school district.
Q: Do I understand correctly that once the school receives this mill levy override that my taxes will not change?
A: There is no formula that says this will happen. In order for the amount of money a tax district requests to remain the same the mill levy increases or decreases depending on the taxable value.
Q: Why do I pay a higher tax for our business than our home?
A: CRS 39-1-104(1) states the valuation for assessment for all taxable property shall be 29 percent of the actual value, excluding residential real property, producing mines and oil and gas leaseholds. Residential property is currently valued at 7.96 percent of the actual value.
Overall, the county’s valuation is currently down 4 percent from last year. Specifically, RE-1 school district value is down 7.4 percent.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office at 970-878-9410.
Renae T. Neilson
Rio Blanco County Assessor
Meeker

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  • It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
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  • It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
  • Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
  • Read part three of the story of M.T. Streeter in this week’s edition of History Lessons! Find it in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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