Colorado § 37-42-126 - Assessment of lands - valuation.

§ 37-42-126. Assessment of lands - valuation.

(1) It is the duty of the county assessor of any county embracing the whole or a part of any irrigation district to assess and enter upon his records as assessor in its appropriate columns the assessment of all lands, including public lands subject to assessment under the congressional act of August 11, 1916, exclusive of improvements, situate, lying, and being within any irrigation district in whole or in part of such county. Immediately after said assessment has been extended as provided by law, the assessor shall make returns of the total amount of such assessment to the board of county commissioners of the county in which the office of said district is located.

(2) All lands within the district for the purpose of taxation under this article shall be valued by the assessor at the same rate per acre; except that in no case shall any land be taxed, or subject to taxation, for irrigation district purposes under this article, or under any other or former law relative to irrigation districts, which by reason of location, or the broken uneven surface, or unsuitable character or quality of the soil is unsuitable for irrigation and cultivation, or which, from any natural cause is not capable of irrigation and cultivation, except at a financial loss, nor shall tracts of land of one acre or less be taxed for irrigation purposes if the board of directors of the irrigation district has fixed an amount payable for each of such tracts. If the amount of water available from the water system of the irrigation district is wholly insufficient for the successful growing and maturing of crops on the entire acreage of lands within the district and susceptible of irrigation therefrom, that fact may be alleged and, upon proof, shall entitle the owner of lands that have never been cultivated and irrigated from the water system of such irrigation district to the relief provided for in this article.

(3) Where a contract is entered into between the United States and an irrigation district organized under this article providing for the payment of charges at an unequal rate per acre, district land so affected shall not be valued by the county assessor under the foregoing provision of this section, but in such case the county assessor shall assess such district land in accordance with the certificate provided for in section 37-42-125 and in compliance with the terms of such contract between the United States and the district.

Source: L. 21: p. 540, § 26. C.L. § 2082. L. 25: p. 326, § 1. CSA: C. 90, § 457. CRS 53: § 149-2-26. L. 63: p. 1004, § 5. C.R.S. 1963: § 150-2-26.

ANNOTATION

Law reviews. For note, "A Survey of Colorado Water Law", see 47 Den. L.J. 226 (1970).