Appraisers' culpability is shown in article

The article “Utility tax fight may hit Idaho residents” (Daily Bee, Sept. 13) is not only thought-provoking but also shows the culpability of appraisers.

If the Supreme Court justices side with PacifiCorp and 4th District Court Judge G. J. Carey, the state will have to repay $11.6 million. The Judge in 2010 ruled PacifiCorp established a preponderance of evidence that the estimated Idaho valuation placed on PacifiCorp’s operating properties was erroneous. The Tax Commission’s property tax division administrator, now fears the impact to Idaho taxpayers could extend well beyond utilities if other companies use PacifiCorp’s arguments in their bid to slash their future tax bills.

As a thought-provoking analogy to this devaluation issue is the real property devaluation as a result of the housing recession that started in 2007. When the housing bubble burst, the assessed value of property owners in Kootenai County fell $720 million in 2008. In 2009, it fell $1.2 billion. In 2010, it fell $2.1 billion. In 2011, it fell $859 million. After five consecutive years of decline in assessed valuation, the Kootenai County Assessor’s Office feels the rate of decline is not getting steeper.

What happened in Bonner County? Sen. Elliot Werk’s appraised value on his home in Ada County went down $151,600 during the period 2006 to 2011 and David Emery’s home went up $157,000 during this same period in Bonner County. Why the disconnect and who is culpable? How many other property owners in Bonner County are in this same situation?

DAVID EMERY

Sagle