Craig Daily Press / Moffat County Commission accepts latest settlement from Questar

Archive for Thursday, February 21, 2013

More than $1 million in back valuations to benefit county taxing districts

February 21, 2013

Craig — The Moffat County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to accept a settlement with Questar Gas worth more than $1 million. The settlement will benefit the county’s taxing districts.

The latest settlement with the energy operator stems from a personal property valuation dispute going back to tax years 2003 through 2008.

Questar, which operates a natural gas pipeline in Moffat County, is required to disclose personal property that meets certain statutory guidelines, former Moffat County Attorney Jeremy Snow said Wednesday. Snow helped with the settlement negotiations.

Those items, including pipelines, meters, compressors, dehydrators and others, may then be taxed at a rough estimated rate of $29,000 per $1 million of valuation.

The dispute between the county and Questar was whether Questar omitted personal property between 2003 and 2008, and if so, what were the respective values of that personal property.

Rather than litigate the issue, Snow said the county and Questar negotiated back and forth about a settlement, ultimately agreeing to $1,080,000.

Questar and the county reached a similar type of settlement last year for $19 million. That settlement was about personal property valuations for the 2011 tax year.

Joe Moylan can be reached at 875-1794 or jmoylan@craigdailypress.com.