Board adjusts taxes in 22% of appeals

About 22 percent of Kootenai County property owners received adjustments on the valuation of their property after appealing to the Kootenai County Commission.

Of the 1,212 properties reviewed, the commission – acting as the county Board of Equalization – made 262 adjustments. Most of those adjustments decreased the value of the property while a few increased it, said County Assessor Mike McDowell, who released the preliminary results Thursday.

McDowell said the number of adjustments is typical; it usually hits about 20 percent each year.

“The work done by our staff was pretty solid,” McDowell said. “We make sure it is done fair and accurately.”

But this was not a typical year. Property values in Kootenai County increased an average of 40 percent. Many residents – especially those with prized waterfront and view lots – saw their property values double or even triple.

That sparked the near-record number of appeals, which prompted Idaho Tax Commission to give county commissioners until Monday – 21 extra days – to hold 969 appeal hearings.

McDowell said 115 people canceled their hearings and 28 people didn’t show.

It’s unknown how many property owners unhappy with the results will appeal to the state Tax Commission. McDowell said there are usually about 20 to 30 state appeals each year.

The three commissioners spent about nine hours a day for weeks listening to property owners present evidence on why their property was incorrectly assessed. Then the assessor’s office would defend the assessment. In the end, the commission would make a decision.

“I appreciate the patience of the community,” Commission Chairman Gus Johnson said.

McDowell said much of his staff had to work 75-hour weeks to prepare for the hearings, racking up $24,000 in overtime. That doesn’t include the overtime worked by the commission’s staff.

McDowell said he will ask the commission for contingency funds to cover the unanticipated costs.