FARMINGTON -- To make amends for a computer error, 71 Davis County property owners will soon be receiving a partial refund on their property tax payment.

The Davis County Commission this week, based on the recommendation of County Assessor Carol Buckley, issued refunds to 71 property owners who were overcharged on their property taxes this year.

Buckley said the overpayments were the result of a computer error. Property owners were assessed 100 percent of market value on their land instead of the 45 percent exemption allowed by law.

"We have never had that happen before," she said.

Buckley said her office has taken the steps necessary to ensure the problem does not happen again. She said the computer error affected taxpayers across the county who had recently appealed their property tax amounts.

County Commissioner Dan McConkie said the refunds for the taxpayers range anywhere from $70 to $600, with the average refund totaling about $200.

"That ought to make some happy campers out there. It would make me happy," McConkie said.

Some taxpayers receiving refunds include a county employee and the brother of County Commissioner Michael J. Cragun.

Cragun, along with McConkie and Commissioner Carol R. Page, unanimously approved the refund, but not before Cragun declared a possible conflict of interest because his brother is on the list to receive a refund.

Buckley said the error was brought to the attention of county staff by legal counsel of one of the property owners.

The refunds to the taxpayers will be handled through the county treasurer"s office, she said.

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-- Anonymous, June 24, 2002