As Scotts Bluff County is conducting their property valuation protest hearings this week, a Central City appraisal firm is continuing the reappraisal that began June first of all Morrill County land. The reappraisal was ordered by State Property Tax Administrator Ruth Sorensen after irregularities were discovered in former Assessor Sue Nussbaum's assessment practices.

Assessor Rose Nelson says Stanard Appraisal started in the southern end of the county and is approximately ten percent complete with its work at this time. Nelson says the county wants an accurate record of residential sales over the last three years and Stanard has recorded 100% of the sales in Bridgeport and 65% in Bayard. Nelson says they are also starting to work on commercial property in Bayard, Bridgeport and Broadwater.

Nelson says there are five people working on the reappraisal and if the owner is not home, they leave a call back tag with initials of the person that was there and a personal ID number so arrangements can made for the appraiser to look at the property.

Nelson says Stanard has until February 10th to complete the reappraisal so the assessor's office can get the values set and submit the figures to the state in March. Nelson says the county board has already reviewed over 600 property protests from 7,242 valuation changes and will hold a special meeting Tuesday to make any necessary changes following those protest hearings

The Tax Administrator's office had already worked with Nelson and her staff this past spring on getting values in line, raising them an average of 51% prior to property owners getting officially notified of their new values.