ASPEN — —Pitkin County has added another $40,000 to its budget for defending property-value assessments done by the county Assessor’s Office — a worthwhile expense, county officials contend, noting the local government has prevailed in an appeal of the value it assigned to Aspen Skiing Co.’s Little Nell hotel.
In all, 43 Pitkin County appeals or abatement cases have been heard, or will be heard, by the state Board of Assessment Appeals in Denver. The county had budgeted $15,000 for an outside attorney to represent the county Board of Equalization in the appeals process, but the number and complexity of the cases have surpassed what the county has seen in the past. County commissioners agreed earlier this week to put another $40,000 to the effort, though it’s unclear how much of the sum will be needed.
The cases represent $2.5 million in property taxes to be paid, depending on the outcome of the appeals, according to Larry Fite, chief appraiser for the Assessor’s Office.
“There’s a lot of tax dollars at stake, so it’s clearly worth having representation,” he told commissioners.
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