2004 Assessment Notices

June 4, 2004

by Assessor David Ryals

2004 Boundary County property valuation (assessment) notices are in the mail and should be received by property owners the week of June 7. Please review the notice carefully and notify us of any errors not later than June 28. Idaho law does not permit us to make changes after that date!

We have discontinued estimating tax because it just isn’t possible to accurately predict what the tax rate will be by the time we are required to mail the notices out. We will continue to show what your tax was for the previous year so if your value did not change (and most didn’t), that amount should be pretty close. Any bonds passed by voters will affect your tax bill and those living within the boundaries of a newly formed tax district, such as South Boundary Fire, will likely see an increase in tax amount even if your value did not.

The city of Bonners Ferry was our required 20% physical re-inspection area for this year. Any changes from those re-appraisals are reflected on your notice. Most went down slightly, but a few did increase due to market growth, which is likely to be a continuing trend. More and more properties are selling for higher values and we have to reflect that in the valuations. Most properties, including personal property, are valued at market value. There are exceptions such as designated agricultural land, which increased slightly and designated timberland, which decreased slightly. Appraisers will be physically inspecting rural parcels in the south and western parts of the county this summer and those appraisals will be effective next year on your 2005 notice.

Idaho tax law is complicated, but essentially your property is valued at its likely selling price if it were on the market.  It is our best estimate as determined by sale prices voluntarily reported. We are required by law to be within 10% of the reported market value by property category and it is our continuing policy to value on the conservative side, but please let us know if you have a question about your appraisal. We would be happy to go over it with you. You must contact us by June 28 for us to make any changes, if necessary. Feel free to contact us anytime during normal work hours at (208) 267-3301 if you just want to know more about the process.