Assessor - Residential Properties (The Basics)

• Wyoming Constitution Article 15, Section 1 "(a) All property, except as in this constitution otherwise provided, shall be uniformly valued at its full value as defined by the legislature, in three (3) classes as follows:" (continued)
• Wyoming Statute 39-12-103 "(b)(i) Except as otherwise provided: (A) All taxable property shall be annually listed, valued and assessed for taxation in the county in which located and in the name of the owner of the property on January 1;" (continued)
• Wyoming Statute 39-13-103 "(b)(ii) Property valued at fair market value. All property shall be annually valued at its fair market value. Except as otherwise provided by law for specific property, the department (Department of Revenue) shall prescribe by rule and regulation the appraisal methods and systems for determining market value using generally accepted appraisal standards."
• Wyoming Statute 34-1-142 through 144 requires the filing of a Statement of Consideration (SOC) as part of each property transfer. These forms contain sales information. The statute also states that an individual SOC cannot be used to adjust the assessment on a property.

• A Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) system is the basis used in Laramie County. This is a cost system consisting of a Boeckh Appraisal Program supported by state enhancements. Property characteristics are collected by field appraisers and entered into the system. This data generates a Replacement Cost New (RCN). With the entry of the year of construction, effective age, and condition a Replacement Cost New Less Depreciation (RCNLD) is developed on each property in the county. Property Record Cards are maintained on each property listing specific information and including a basic sketch of the house and attachments. Information on other miscellaneous improvements such as sheds or outbuildings and pictures of the property are included. The various CAMA systems used in Wyoming have been validated by a WY Supreme Court Decision No. 94-19, Gray vs. WY SBOE, 6/9/95. A copy of this decision is available for review in the Assessor's Office.
• Converse County has been divided into appraisal neighborhoods of similar properties by the Assessor's Office to aid in developing fair and equitable market values. Maps delineating these are available in the office for review and a more detailed explanation.
• In the process of developing a market value for each property as of January 1 for a given year, sales information for an area is analyzed to develop adjustments that must be applied to the RCNLD to bring the property to current market value. One of the first and more important areas of consideration are properties within a geographic neighborhood and their relative sales ratios. This is because the neighborhoods have been developed on Location, Economic Forces, Governmental and Social Factors and Boundaries that group properties with similarities. Within neighborhoods other considerations may be age, type of construction, etc. Through the use of computer programs, information gained from properties that have sold can be used on properties not sold to achieve a fair market value for all properties.