Assessor: appeals surge to 243 after state assessment changes; 25 seniors to lose portable exemption

Jeanne, the county assessor, told the board the office received 243 appeals at the assessor level this intervening year — a marked increase from 101 in the previous intervening year — and that the volume was driven in part by recent state assessment and rate changes. “We had 243 at our assessor level,” Jeanne said, and she walked commissioners through the categories (residential, commercial, vacant) and the resulting adjustments and denials.

She warned that a state measure will discontinue the qualified portable senior exemption, affecting 25 Chaffee County accounts; she estimated the affected accounts share roughly $100,000 of actual value. Jeanne said the county will send notice letters and encouraged affected taxpayers to contact legislators. She also described plans for the 2027 revaluation (considering three years of sales to smooth values) and noted staffing and workflow changes to speed mapping and valuation work.