Alfalfa County Assessor Jennifer Roach spoke to the Cherokee Board of Education about why her visual inspection bill to the school district was up $9,700 this year. The reason is because of the anticipated increase in oil companies protesting their taxes.

Last year, BCE Mach protested their taxes, and as the case proceeds BCE Mach has put $500,000 in escrow that will go to Cherokee schools if BCE Mach loses their case.

Next year, Roach sees a significant increase in oil companies planning tax protests. "A bunch more oil companies are jumping on that bandwagon," she said; "I expect more to try...