Big Horn County Valuation Increases

Big Horn County is becoming more valuable.
That’s according to figures released this week by County Assessor Gina Anderson. According to an article in the Basin Republican-Rustler, the County experienced a 6.6 percent increase in assessed property value during the past year, growing from $201.5 million to $215.8 million.
While still significantly below the 10-year high of $307.7 million, which occurred in 2009, this year’s total signifies an economic turnaround, as the county has experienced a decrease in valuation over the last two years.
Anderson says that the increase is largely due to a rise in state-assessed property value, pointing to a $15.6 million gain in solid minerals such as bentonite, gypsum, sand and gravel, as well as petroleum minerals such as oil and natural gas. The article states that the largest increase in the state-assessed valuation occurred in oil, which rose 22 percent, while bentonite increased by 8 percent and railroad at 7 percent. Anderson said declines were noted in gypsum and sand/gravel.