Garfield County commissioners accepted the Board of Equalization (BOE) officer’s recommendations and administrative valuation corrections after hearings on property assessments and authorized several routine appointments and business licenses.

The county clerk and assessor reported the BOE process produced roughly $1.6 million in corrections after appeals and assessor-initiated adjustments. The assessor explained the county is using the state’s new appraisal software and that state law requires annual adjustments to values; commissioners emphasized that the county did not increase tax rates and that the school district was the entity that increased its levy during truth-in-taxation.

The commission also ratified representation for the Utah Counties Indemnity Pool (UCIP) meeting scheduled in the coming weeks, naming one commissioner as representative and the clerk as the backup voting delegate.

Separately, the commission appointed Anne Axel to the Panguitch Cemetery Board at the cemetery board’s request to assist with digitization of grave records, and the commission approved three business licenses including a medical spa and a Bryce Canyon stargazing/tour operator.

Commissioners discussed the broader context for tax notices: state-mandated valuation changes and the new Puma (state appraisal) software. County staff said the BOE process is available annually to correct valuations and that the assessor’s office will continue to process minor adjustments before tax notices are mailed.

The board voted to accept the BOE recommendations and to ratify the administrative appointments on the consent portion of the meeting.