County slightly lowers property tax rates

San Juan County Commissioners have approved a slight property tax decrease for county residents.

On June 16, the commission adopted a certified tax rate that would drop the San Juan County portion of property taxes on a $200,000 home from $396.55 to $389.84.

The county portion of property taxes on a $200,000 business would drop from $721 to $708.80.

A property tax decrease was not anticipated after the Commission went through often painful Truth in Taxation hearings in December 2019 that would have approved a significant tax increase.

Taxes had not been raised in several years, and the county faced a significant legal bill for a host of lawsuits.

While the Commission had approved the concept of a tax increase after the Truth in Taxation hearings, in April they announced a desire to keep taxes lower.

The change in strategy was announced in the midst of a public health and economic crisis triggered by the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.

After the annual assessment, County Clerk John David Nielson told Commissioners that the value of properties in San Juan County increased by roughly $25 million in the past year.

An amended certification by County Assessor Greg Adams pegs the total value of properties at $893,936,213.

This includes more than $354 million in centrally-assessed properties, $454 million in locally-assessed properties, and $85 million in personal properties.

Property values are roughly $114 million in Monticello, $115 million in Blanding, and $28 million in Bluff.