Not Much Growth in Property Value for Carbon County

The total assessed value of Carbon County's top ten property tax payers edged up slightly in 2012, but
still remains under $1 billion.

According to figures provided by the County Treasurer's Office, the assessed value of the top ten was
$923 million. In 2011 it was $888 million.

The valuations of the past two years are still well below $1.36 billion of 2008, before the recession and
natural gas glut.

Every one of the top ten this year is an energy producer or related to the energy industry.

Bill Barrett Corp. heads the list, with a value of $177.6 million and tax amount of $1.85 million. Conoco
Phillips is number two, valued at $168.5 million and tax amount of $1.8 million.

The total tax amount for all ten producers is $10.13 million, just about equal to last year's $10.17 million.
The top ten pay a little less than half of total taxes charged, which is $22 million.

Figures could change somewhat if appeals alter the valuations and the taxes.

Bigger industries such as these are "centrally assessed," meaning that the State Tax Commission rather
than the County Assessor determines the values. The formula used by the state is complicated because it
considers such factors as depletion, depreciation, corporate capital structure and risk premiums.

It is not like assigning a value to a home.

The big tax payers - and every other property tax payer - support schools, county and municipal services.
Schools traditionally get the bulk of property tax payments. Sun Advocate

'Business friendly' - County planners consider new concept for zoning in rural residential areas

Somewhere between a garage or basement business and a factory or office building, there's a time when a small, growing company may need space to put two employees to work. The Carbon County Planning and Zoning Commission and staff are working on a new zone designation to accommodate that need. 

The idea, still in draft form, is to allow a small company to have facilities and employees in rural residential or rural agricultural zones. It would have to be done in such a way that the character of these rural neighborhoods won't be changed and the value of nearby properties won't be affected.

This concept is known as a small business overlay zone. The minimum lot size for this new zone is two acres. It would permit small business development in the Rural Residential 1 acre, 2.5 acre and 5 acre zones, and in the Residential Agricultural 20 acre zone. Property in the RR1 zone would have to meet the two-acre minimum.  Sun Advocate