by Jim Everson, Jefferson County Assessor
comments open from December 28 until Febraury 27

My staff and I will be conducting a series of Business Property Tax Forums across Jefferson County early in 2010. These forums are designed to let the business community in Jefferson County know about a new online business personal property tax reporting option we are offering for 2010 and to help business owners better understand business property taxes in general.

When businesses receive their business personal property tax declaration in January 2010, it will be the first time they will have the option of filing their declaration online. Each declaration sent will contain instructions for online filing, however, these forums are being made available to business owners to answer questions they may have. We also plan to present information on how we value business real and personal property and facts about the specific geographic marketplace in which the forum is being presented.

The four Business Property Tax Forums will be held in library community rooms beginning at 7:00 p.m.:

• For Arvada, Westminster and North area: Wednesday, January 13, at Standley Lake Library in Arvada.

• For the Mountain Area: Wednesday, January 20, at the Evergreen Library.

• For the Lakewood and Wheat Ridge Area: Wednesday, January 27, at the Belmar Library in Lakewood.

• For the South Area: Wednesday, February 10, at Columbine Library in South Jeffco.

I hope business owners and their tax service providers will take this opportunity to find out more about their property taxes and how to deal effectively with the Assessor's Office in addition to learning about the new on-line personal property system.

The Jefferson County Assessor's Office is responsible for valuing all property in Jefferson County for property tax purposes. Our Web site(http://assessor.jeffco.us) offers information about the assessment process and property valuations. Our office is located in the Jefferson County Administration Building at 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, Colorado, Suite 2500. Property owners may also call 303-271-8600 or email the office.

We would love to hear comments from those who attend the forums and get ideas for future property tax forums.