In Montrose County, two offices handle your property taxes

A property tax bill in Montrose County can feel like a single mystery number, but it is really the end of a short chain, and two different county offices handle different parts of it.

First, the county assessor sets your property’s value. Then that value is reduced by a state assessment rate to get a taxable amount. Finally, the local districts that serve your parcel, things like the county, schools, a fire district, or a water district, each add their share through a mill levy. Add those shares together and you get the bill. This is why two homes that sell for about the same price can owe different taxes; they may sit in different districts.

The second office is the county treasurer, who sends the bill and collects the payment. So if you have a question about how your value was set, that is the assessor. If you have a question about paying, due dates, or what you owe, that is the treasurer.

Rates and levies change, so it is best to look them up rather than assume. The state division of property taxation explains how the pieces work, and the county assessor and treasurer handle your specific parcel.