Landowners dispute tax valuations

SANDPOINT — Bonner County landowners are challenging their tax assessments in 1st District Court.

Counsel for Coeur d’Alene resident and Priest Lake landowner Douglas Parker filed a petition for judicial review contending his 2016 tax assessment exceeds fair market value. The Bonner County Assessor’s Office valued his parcel at $878,772, prompting Parker to appeal to the county commission, which serves as the county’s board of tax equalization. However, the board reduced the lot’s value to $865,402, a difference of only $13,370.

Parker’s counsel, Sandpoint attorney Ford Elsaesser, argues his client’s parcel should be assessed at the value he paid for it during the Idaho Department of Lands’ state lease lot auction in 2015. At the time of the purchase, the lot was valued at $528,000 and the improvements were valued at $175,000, resulting in total value of $703,000, according to court documents.

A couple with property in the Rapid Lightning Creek drainage, meanwhile, is also appealing their tax assessment in district court. Julie and Donald Skinner appealed their $900,812 assessment to the board of equalization and saw a reduction to $694,882. However, the Skinner’s attorney, John Finney, maintains that the value still eclipses fair market value and that personal property not subject to taxation was rolled into the assessment.