(1) (a) In order to give taxpayers an alternative to pursuing an appeal of the county board of equalization's decision through either the board of assessment appeals or the district court, an arbitration process shall be established. The board of county commissioners shall develop a list of persons who shall be qualified to act as arbitrators of property valuation disputes. Such list shall be kept in the office of the county clerk and recorder. (b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (1)(c) of this section, persons on the list maintained pursuant to subsection (1)(a) of this section must be, in addition to any other qualifications deemed necessary by the board, experienced in the area of property taxation and licensed or certificated pursuant to part 6 of article 10 of title 12. (c) No person shall act as an arbitrator of property valuation disputes in any county during any property tax year in which such person represents or has represented any taxpayer in any matter relating to the protest and appeal of property valuation or to the abatement or refund of property taxes. (2) (a) Within thirty days of the county board of equalization's decision, any taxpayer who plans to pursue arbitration shall notify the board of his intent. The taxpayer and the county board of equalization shall select an arbitrator from the list prepared pursuant to subsection (1) of this section within forty-five days of the county board of equalization's decision or within thirty days from the date the list of arbitrators is made available in any given year, whichever is later. In the absence of agreement by the taxpayer and the county board of equalization within said specified time period, the district court of the county in which the property is located shall select an arbitrator from said list. (b) If a taxpayer acts pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (2), the county board of equalization shall be required to participate in arbitration and to accept the arbitrator selected. (3) (a) Arbitration hearings shall be at a time and place set by the arbitrator with the mutual consent of the taxpayer and the county board of equalization. The arbitration hearing shall be held within sixty days from the date the arbitrator was selected. (b) Procedure at arbitration hearings shall be informal, and strict rules of evidence shall not be applied except as necessitated in the opinion of the arbitrator by the requirements of justice. All questions of law and fact shall be determined by the arbitrator. (b.5) The taxpayer shall produce information to support his contention that the property should be valued differently. The assessor shall produce information to support the basis and amount of his valuation of the property. Both the information of the assessor and the information of the taxpayer shall be considered by the arbitrator in making his decision. (c) The arbitrator may issue or cause to be issued subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and for the production of books, records, documents, and other evidence and shall have the power to administer oaths. Subpoenas so issued shall be served and, upon application to the district court by the taxpayer or the county board of equalization or the arbitrator, enforced in the manner provided by law for the service and enforcement of subpoenas in civil actions. (d) The taxpayer and the county board of equalization shall be entitled to attend, personally or with counsel, and participate in the proceedings. Such participation may include the filing of briefs and affidavits. Upon agreement of both parties, the proceedings may be confidential and closed to the public. (e) No record of the proceedings is required. (f) The arbitrator's decision shall be made in accordance with applicable Colorado property tax laws. The arbitrator's decision shall be in writing and signed by the arbitrator. (g) The arbitrator shall deliver a copy of his decision to the parties personally or by registered mail within ten days of the hearing. Such decision shall be final and not subject to review. (4) An arbitrator shall be immune from civil liability arising from participation as an arbitrator and for all communications, findings, opinions, and conclusions made in the course of his duties under this section. (5) (a) An arbitrator's expenses and fees shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars per case concerning residential real property. For cases concerning any taxable property other than residential real property, an arbitrator's expenses and fees shall be an amount agreed upon by the taxpayer and the county board of equalization. (b) The arbitrator's fees and expenses, not including counsel fees, incurred in the conduct of the arbitration shall be paid as provided in the decision. (6) Any decision of the county board of equalization regarding a 1987 property valuation which has been appealed to either the board of assessment appeals or the district court and which has not been heard or adjudicated may be submitted to arbitration pursuant to this section at the request of the taxpayer.
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