McCall Idaho Headline News

More than 2,700 Valley County property owners have appealed their property assessments, Valley County Assessor Karen Campbell said.

The count of 2,705 appeals was unofficial as of Tuesday afternoon, but far exceeds last year's apparent record number of appeals of about 600.

Appeals were due to be filed by Monday.

The Board of Equalization has until July 9 to hear all the appeals, but Campbell said an extension will be requested from the state. Of those appeals, 733 property owners have asked to have a personal appearance before the board, which is composed of the three county commissioners.

The McCall law firm of Millemann, Pittenger, McMahon and Pemberton filed about 560 of those appeals seeking a personal appearance before the board, Campbell said.

Those appeals will be handled as a group, she said.

Campbell also hopes a group of 120 Payette Lake property owners who are represented by an unidentified Boise attorney can also be handled by the county as a group.

The board began hearing the appeals of property owners not seeking a personal appearance Wednesday. A little less than 2,000 appellants chose that option, she said.

Property owners who will not appear provided written statement Monday supporting their claims that the assessments were incorrect, Campbell said.

A schedule of personal appearances has not been determined, yet, Campbell said.

The county's preliminary assessments increased the county's value by 50 percent, from about $4 billion last year to $6 billion this year. Campbell's office is also looking at adjusting some of the parcel assessments.

"We have to work with the Idaho State Tax Commission so that our ratios are in compliance," Campbell said.

"If we change values, those owners will have an additional 10 days to appeal the new value," she said.