FLOOD00213

• County: Statewide
• Community: State of Colorado
• Title: Water Rights Determination Systems Study CWCB
• Date: 5/6/1988
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

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The report of the State Board of Equalization, prepared by the
Division of Property Taxation, was used as the base document by the
Legislative Council in developing the recommendations that follow.
The data in this report need not be repeated except to indicate the
parameters of the estimated additional cost of six alternative
reappraisals and physical inspection cycles:

Physical Frequency Estimated
Inspection of Increased
Cycle Appraisals Cost
4 Years Annua 1 $16,726,981
Biennial 8,970,182
10 Years Annual $13,169,835
Biennial 3,353,356
20 Years Annu a 1 $12,220,397
Biennial 2,301,301

The projected cost increases represent additional personnel
requirements only. Additional expenditures for increased office space
needs, upgrading of computers, increased printing and mailing costs
for annual assessments, and training costs were not included.
Personnel costs represent approximately three-fourths of the
expenditures of assessors' offices in most counties.

Legislative Council Recommendations

(1) In view of the cost projections for annual assessments, it
is recommended that the state retain the biennial assessment schedule
for years immediately beyond 1991. Great improvements have been made
in Colorado's assessment practices, but some counties are still
struggling under the present reassessment cycle. Last year's
statewide audit of one percent of all assessments in each county
reported that 23 counties were out of compliance in at least one
classification of property. Retaining the two-year reappraisal cycle
beyond 1991 will give counties that are not fully up-to-date a chance
to upgrade their assessors' offices without having to spend all of
their possible revenue increases for this purpose. The state,
however, should eventually adopt an annual reappraisal schedule and
counties should be prepared to meet this goal.

(2) The Legislative Council recommends that each county
determine for itself the physical inspection schedule that is
appropriate for its unique characteristics. A state mandate of
physical inspections every 4, 10, or 20 years could result in some
properties being inspected more frequently than necessary, others not
often enough. In several counties, the building permit system should
provide adequate information for determining the upgraded value of
various properties. In other areas, a physical inspection should be

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