Property taxes not as high as first proposed, but farmers still not happy

Property taxes in Jefferson County are not going to be as high as first proposed by the county assessor, but farmers are still not happy with their increases.

Property values nearly doubled this year after adjustments were made by the county assessor’s office.

Farmers protested the lack of data that the county assessors office used to calculate new property values in Jefferson Country leading many farmers to appeal their assessment values to the Board of Equalization’s commissioners.

After getting new surveys from the people the county assessors office recalculated the new data collected and the outcome of the property values were reduced.

A group hearing was held, and three commissioners and room full of farmers who appealed their property values sat down to discuss appeals made by farmers.

Mickelsen Farms owner Stephanie Mickelsen was appointed and sworn in before the board to present her case.

She outlined the issue of property values being much higher in Jefferson County and lower in Bonneville County.

“We have land in both counties, and Bonneville is significantly lower,” Mickelsen said.

She proposed the county assessor use a crop share method instead of a cash rent method when assessing land values.

“The assessor’s office was feeling the heat from the state because the state comes in heavy handed and comes to the different counties, and tells them they have to have evaluations between certain ranges,” Mickelsen said.

According to the county assessor Cody Taylor, state law allows two different methods for finding agriculture values.

During 2009 and 2015, agriculture values remained stagnant. However, farmers proposed that they go back to the steady values during that time.

Before voting on the new assessments, one commissioner, Scott Hancock, removed himself from the vote leaving two commissioners the vote.

The other two commissioners denied the farmers original appeal and accepted the new land values that the county assessor’s office calculated.

The new assessment values will be used across the board for all land values.