WalMart store assessed lower

Whitman County’s official valuation of the new WalMart Supercenter building in Pullman dropped $2.5 million after the company challenged the assessment.

Assessor Joe Reynolds reported Monday he had dropped his office’s valuation from $15 million to $12.5 million. Wal-Mart had requested a reduction to $10 million.

WalMart had appealed Reynold’s assessment to the county’s board of equalization, the board that officially decides disputed tax values. County commissioners also make up the three-member board of equalization.

WalMart’s appeal was the only one scheduled to be heard by the board of equalization this year, but Reynolds negotiated the $2.5 million cutback with Wal-Mart management last month before the actual hearing.

At a value of $12.5 million, WalMart’s annual property tax will be more than $158,600 on a city of Pullman levy of $12.69 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.