County Assessor notifies of intent to retire

Rick Meyer has retired as San Juan County Assessor. The retirement became effective on June 15.
On June 9, the Utah State Tax Commission formally recommended that Meyer be removed from office, stating that the action is necessary “to protect the public interest and restore the integrity of the property tax system in San Juan County.”
Rather than go through a lengthy and complicated legal process under new legislation that has not yet been tested, Meyer instead submitted his notification of retirement.
The San Juan County Republican party is expected to recommend a candidate to replace Meyer as an elected official.
Joshua R. Nielsen, Director of Property Tax for the Tax Commission, made the recommendation in a letter to the San Juan County Commission dated June 9, 2026,
Nielson writes “this recommendation follows a multi-year history of non-compliance, multiple formal corrective action orders, and a documented failure to comply with Utah tax statutes.
“Despite extensive technical assistance and clear written guidance from this Division, the Assessor has failed to remediate systemic failures that compromise the integrity of the San Juan County assessment roll and denies taxpayers their right to a fair, equitable, and transparent valuation process.”
Meyer has served as San Juan County Assessor since 2021, winning the support of voters in 2020 and again in 2024. The assessor determines the value of properties for local property taxes. In San Juan County, the state tax commission determines the value of large commercial and industrial properties.
Legislation passed in 2025 gives the Tax Commission increased authority to oversee county assessors, but this is the first time the law has been used. It is unclear how the San Juan County Commission will respond or how an elected official can be removed from office.
The four-page letter outlines a series of issues, stating there has been non-compliance with state law, unauthorized exemptions, operational and data integrity failures, and denial of taxpayer fairness, equity, and transparency.
A copy of the letter can be found at the San Juan Record website at sjrnews.com.