Local business penalized for tax exemption error

The county commissioners have refunded a civil penalty to a business owner who was inaccurately advised by the Crook County Treasurer’s Office that her vehicles were tax exempt. The decision was made despite legal advice from County Attorney Joe Baron that a refund is not within the county’s purview to grant.

In Baron’s opinion, County Treasurer Mary Kuhl does not have the statutory authority to correct her mistake; neither, he said, does the county commission have legal authority to issue a refund.

However, said Commissioner Jeanne Whalen, an outside lawyer was consulted. That lawyer had a “d...