Tax update from county assessor
Dear Editor:
Dear residents of Rio Blanco County: tax notices have been sent from the county treasurer and most of you saw a change in your tax amounts from the prior year. There are many reasons for these changes, for instance 2021 was a reappraisal year and sales from 7/1/18 through 6/30/20 were used in setting your value. The value is not the only contributing factor to your tax bill. The other main factor is the mill levy, these are set by schools, county, towns, and other taxing entities. The mill levy is applied to the taxable value to arrive at the amount of taxes you pay.
What is a tax district? These are the districts that provide citizens and our guests with services. There are many special districts like the fire department, library, cemetery, rec center, water, pest control, hospital, county services that include the road and bridge department, and schools. We have a pamphlet on our website that shows the value, mill levy and revenue each district receives. These are also available in our office.
Here are some important deadlines to be aware of.
April 15 – Personal Property and Natural Resource Production Declarations are due to our office.
May 1–Notice of Value postcards are mailed if your property changed by 75%, CRC 39-5-121. This year, 2022, is an intervene year, therefore unless you have made changes you will not receive a notice. If you have questions please feel free to contact our office.
May 3–Protest period for Real Property starts.
June 1 – Protest period for Real Property ends.
June 15–Notice of Value for Personal Property, Oil, Gas and other Natural Resource Production are mailed and Protest period begins.
June 30–Personal Property, Natural Resource Production Protest ends.
July 1–Applications for disabled veteran exemptions are submitted to the Division of Veterans Affairs. Contact them for information.
July 15–Application for senior exemption are due to the Assessor. This exemption is for a home owner who has lived in their home over 10 years and is 65 years of age as of Jan. 1, 2022.
We have a newly improved website located under Assessor on the county website – the web address is rbc.us. We are here to serve you and welcome your questions anytime. You can contact us by phone at 970-878-9410 or email us at assessor@rbc.us.
Renae Nielson
Rio Blanco County Assessor
Vote diligently
Dear Editor:
Before you cast your votes in the two upcoming elections (May 10 and June 28), please be diligent in your choice of leadership. Vote for someone you believe will put the overall well being of RBC, the town and local entities first. Make a conscious decision to identify individuals with tendencies to make deals behind the scenes or decisions that involve personal gain. Stand up, ask questions, be aware, tune into the BOCC meetings online, or better yet, come in person.
Current talking points:
1. Mr. Rector has and continues to miss way more than his fair share of scheduled meetings. Is that showing commitment to his elected position? Could this be considered an inefficient use of county money?
2. Are the commissioners handling the CCTIF funds according to the original guidelines? In this matter, two RBC commissioners currently want to dish out $4 million to a reservoir project. it is my understanding that this project is not even close to being fully funded and more than likely won’t happen. $4 million wouldn’t even begin to cover the impact studies that are required. Is this “expenditure” in the best interest of the county? It seems the logic is missing, especially under our current and future budget concerns. Unless, of course, this generous donation is an attempt to set one’s self up for a political appointment in some other arena…
3. There is a regular pattern of adding items to the meeting agenda at the last possible minute. Once in a while? Absolutely. But weekly seems manipulative and inconsiderate, and most definitely puts the general public at a disadvantage.
4. The decision by two of the commissioners to direct a supplemental budget to defund the election equipment will require a specific legal process according to state statutes. Let’s all watch this closely to see if the public is correctly informed. Once again, true character and moral fibers come to light when given access to power.
Respectfully,
Toby Leavitt
Meeker
Profile in courage
Dear Editor:
1. In 2016 it was evident that the revenue base for Rio Blanco County was in decline, and the usual cyclical recovery was not going to save us,
2. as the Commissioners were using “reserves” to sidestep the requirement for balanced budgets, but
3. recently it was recognized that there was no easy way out.
4. Cutting expenses is unpleasant and hard and takes courage.
5. Our Sheriff, Anthony Mazzola recognized the problem, and the inability of the Commissioners to act decisively, so
6. he proposed closing the Meeker jail, which was underutilized, for a long-term savings of about one-half of the $1 million budgeted annually.
7. It appears that the initial target of $300,000 to $400,000 annual savings expected for 2022 will be more like $500,000 based on a recent Commissioners meeting.
8. Of course, there was opposition, but the critics were hollering about the first-year savings which seemed nominal and ignoring the longer-term savings two or three years out.
9. With a reelection primary underway, there is no cogent debate, so it is important to recognize the profile in courage of Anthony Mazzola to act instead of just talk about fiscal responsibility.
10. Let’s see which other entities put some savings into the ring.
Jim Magid
Meeker
Recall vote unhealthy measure
Dear Editor:
A question looms before the Meeker electorate on May 10, 2022. On that day, we, the people will exercise our right to self-govern and a vote will be taken to decide an issue that has raised itself to qualify as a matter that warrants public action. We will vote on it.
It must be important. We just cannot allow certain things to be done. And if, some people, insist on doing things that should not be done, well then, they should be held to account for their actions. And all this must certainly be true in the case of the electorate and Gary Moyer, Rio Blanco County Commissioner. Gary Moyer needs to be removed from serving in his elected office because he is guilty.
If Mr. Moyer was not guilty of some kind of violation of his office, then he would not be subject to a recall action taken by the necessary segment of the electorate. Gary must have done something wrong. If Gary had not done something wrong, not committed some act of selfishness in exchange for a favorable vote on an issue, not violated his oath of office, then why would he be the subject of a public vote to determine whether or not he should finish out the last six months of his office? He must be a stain on the good name of Government in our County and Community.
But when I searched for documentation, for findings and facts, giving evidence that Mr. Moyer has committed any violation(s), there is no available documentation that can construct a cause of action for removal from office. No legal grounds for the recall.
People, we need to understand this — it is very important to the health and well being of our Communities along the Rio Blanco River. Gary Moyer did not commit a crime. Gary Moyer did not violate any oath of office. There is no reason to ‘tear the fabric’ — no reason to divide — no reason to even ask the question. There is no question. This process has not arrived at a legally binding reason for a recall. This is very dangerous.
A recall election does not qualify as ‘bringing charges against.’ A recall election must be based on the facts — not the feelings. What are the results of examining the charges and establishing the violations against the County Commissioner?
Again, in all the records that describe these types of parliamentary procedures, using Robert’s Rules of Order, according to the minutes of the meetings, no documentation can be found that mentions disciplinary actions, motions, entries for the record, charges, accusations, or violations by Commissioner Moyer.
Vote for Truth.
The truth is there is no reason for a recall vote now. Vote the scoundrel out of office — if that is your heart — but wait until the correct time to do so. Vote NO that Gary Moyer be recalled. This is NOT how government functions. It is NOT done this way. Do not divide our Community. Do not sow a seed of discord. It we want someone else instead of Gary Moyer, that opportunity is coming soon enough. This is not worth the wound that will be suffered — for the sake of six months. That is unwise on our part. I am asking that we refrain from harming ourselves. Vote No — because that is the truthful thing to do.
That concludes the Letter to the Editor. Thank you for reading. In addition, I would like to offer my objective opinion, from observing Mr. Moyer preside over County meetings this past year:
Courageous leadership would be the caption used to define his performance. His mannerism (which is NOT part of the office) is short, direct and challenging. He asks questions clearly, directly, and pursues the answer — he is not put off lightly. (That’s important) He is a staunch fiscal conservative who refuses to spend money he does not have in the budget. He is serious about teaching this. People cannot be more committed to the welfare of Rio Blanco County than Gary Moyer. Personally, I wish more people serving in Office had his principles and values. I believe he is a good man and has earned the right to complete his term of office.
Expressing our will is not done this way. It’s not legal. Let’s do what is right. No recall — not now.
Jeff Prystupa
Rio Blanco County Health Commissioner
Meeker
