PENDING). EVEN IF AN OFFICIAL OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS A BINDING LEGAL EFFECT, ANY OPINION FROM THIS OFFICE WHICH DID NOT ACCOUNT FOR DIFFERENT ASSESSMENT PRACTICES IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES WOULD CREATE CONFUSING AND POTENTIALLY CONFLICTING LEGAL STANDARDS FOR COUNTY ASSESSORS IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES, A RESULT WHICH WOULD SERVE NO USEFUL PURPOSE.
I KNOW IT MUST BE FRUSTRATING FOR PERSONS LIKE MR. PINION WHEN THEY ARE UNABLE TO HAVE THEIR COMPLAINTS ABOUT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESOLVED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL; HOWEVER, THERE ARE SEVERE LIMITS INHERENT IN THE LEGAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THIS OFFICE WHICH MAKE THAT RESULT UNAVOIDABLE ON OCCASION. IT IS ALSO DIFFICULT WHEN IT IS APPARENT THAT A QUESTION CANNOT BE FRAMED IN A WAY THAT SEPARATES SUFFICIENTLY THE LEGAL AND FACTUAL ISSUES NECESSARY TO PERMIT US TO ADDRESS THE LEGAL QUESTIONS ONLY IN AN OFFICIAL OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, BUT THAT APPEARS EMPHATICALLY TO BE THE CIRCUMSTANCE WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH HERE. IF YOU BELIEVE WE CAN FIND SOME WAY TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS WITHIN THE STATUTORY PARAMETERS WITHIN WHICH THIS OFFICE MUST OPERATE, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS YOUR CONCERNS FURTHER WITH EITHER OR BOTH OF YOU. I REGRET THAT WE CANNOT BE OF MORE ASSISTANCE TO YOU IN ADDRESSING MR. PINION'S PROBLEMS.
(NED BASTOW)