La Plata County valuation in 2014, taxable in 2015, was an intervening year where real estate values carried over from 2013 where all properties, except oil and gas, were valued on the 2012 level of value.
This “intervening year” law, with no voter approved mill levy changes for 2015, will make most property taxes very close to what they were last year. Some taxing areas actually will see small reductions in taxes because of the influence of higher natural gas prices, an average of $2.49 per million British Thermal Units vs. $3.31. Natural resource properties, physical changes to land sizes and new construction represent the only real changes to the tax base during these intervening years. County appraisers added $137,937,780 in new construction in 2014.
Overall, the tax base saw an 8.8 percent increase in value while the share attributable to oil and gas has moved from 37.7 percent of the base to 41.99 percent.
Looking to the future we are now moving properties from the 2012 level of value to the 2014 level, meaning the new value will be based on sales values trended to June 30, 2014.
Our natural gas prices looked good through 2014, but we will await the final production volumes, due in April.
These new real estate values will be mailed to property owners in May of this year along with an electronic option for property owners that can save the county money.
This will be the second year people can sign up to receive assessor notifications electronically. Some of you will receive your notifications this way, for the first time.
The paperless option will provide for better direct communications with this office. The instructions will be on the form as will the unique number allowing you enroll for the electronic option.
As many of you already know, you can always look at your values, 24/7, at https://eagleweb.laplata.co.us/assessor/web/ or by going through the La Plata County web page to the assessor page.
The Assessor’s Office is happy to answer inquires about valuation at any time, 382-6221.
Craig N. Larson La Plata County Assessor
Durango
