The school board had challenged the assessments of 18 of the school district's most valuable commercial properties because their taxable value plunged after the county's reassessment. In July, the district challenged those new assessments, saying they were unfair to other taxpayers. Anthony said the district reached settlements with several of the property owners, but the Carbon County Board of Assessment Appeals ignored the settlements. There seemed to be no logic to it and, of course, no explanation. The appeals board has been much-criticized, particularly for not offering any explanation for its decisions.
Appellants get the results of their appeals by mail, often weeks after the fact.
Several lawyers who are contesting decisions by the board have accused the board of violating the Sunshine Act by deciding cases behind closed doors, and Carbon County President Judge John P. Lavelle has been asked to consider invalidating all the appeals because of the alleged violations. Lavelle has not said when he will issue a ruling. The school board voted 5-0 against appealing. Board members Dolores George, Robert Jakoubek and Michael Raub were absent. Raymond Tuthill Jr., who owns one of the properties being challenged, abstained.