Taxpayers revolt, tax assessors revolt back

The anti-tax think tank Nevada Policy Research Institute continues its series of reports on a burgeoning taxpayer revolt in northern Nevada that could have statewide implications.

Only this time it is tax assessors in revolt.

Freelance journalist John Dougherty reports tax assessors have rebuffed a request to appear before the state Board of Equalization.

"The assessors' refusal stunned (Las Vegas accountant and Board of Equalization member Dennis) Meservy, who in an earlier interview Thursday morning predicted all the assessors would attend the meeting. Meservy suggested that the board may issue subpoenas demanding the assessors' appearance. 'We will have to talk to our legal counsel,' he said.," the story states.

Taxpayers near Lake Tahoe have long been alleging tax assessors are in violation of state law that requires uniform statewide procedures for appraising property for taxation.

Dougherty reports: "The assessors' refusal to appear before the equalization board comes as increasing public scrutiny into Nevada's property-tax-assessment system has revealed a systemic failure by the state Tax Commission and the state Department of Taxation to ensure that county assessors are using uniform methods for the appraisal of property. The state Supreme Court in December 2006 ruled that assessors must use only appraisal techniques that have been approved by the commission, per state law."