I would like to respond to the letter from Ms. Yarina (“
Colorado requires all county assessors to re-value the property in their county every two years. For tax years 2020 and 2021, values were set using sales that occurred July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2018.
We review all sales that have occurred and use only those sales that were determined to be qualified, arm-length sales. This means the property was offered on the open market, the buyer and seller were not related and fair market value was paid.
We look at the sales by neighborhood and adjust by neighborhood or groups of neighborhoods. So, for instance, if you live in Rafter J, we use the sales that occurred in that neighborhood to value Rafter J.
These percentage changes are applied by neighborhood to both the land and the improvements. Do the percentages work?
Most of the time, yes, but due to the un-homogenous nature of La Plata County, sometimes we need to take a closer look at the values of some properties.
This is what protest period is for. The entire month of May, you have the opportunity to contact the Assessor’s Office to discuss or protest the value or classification of your property. We offer many ways to do this: online via our website; in person at our office at 1101 E. 2nd Ave., Suite A; via U.S. mail; or give us a call. We are happy to discuss your property, its inventory, classification and value.
Property owners, please listen to the facts. There are no conspiracies in the process of property valuation in La Plata County. Everything we do is mandated by the state and we are audited on this process. It is my responsibility as the assessor to make sure these values are fair and equitable. That is very important to me and my staff. If you really feel your value is incorrect, please contact us – we will review it with you.
Carrie Woodson, La Plata County assessor
