Yellow notices set 2021 tax process in motion

For property owners outside city limits, the county Board of Equalization is scheduled to convene at 1:30 p.m. June 16, and if needed, again at 6 p.m. June 23 in the courthouse boardroom.

Both meetings are conducted each year to determine whether valuation and classification of property in the county was applied correctly, consistently and fairly. The county board serves as the equalization board.

Property owners with questions about their notices, or the classification or value of their property, are encouraged to first contact the Assessor’s Office at 283-1122. Many times, concerns can be resolved prior to the Board of Equalization meeting.

For property owners in International Falls, the Assessor’s Open Book meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to noon May 13 at the County Assessor’s office, in the courthouse, located at 715 4th St. This meeting allows city residents their first opportunity to appeal discuss their property assessment and valuation.

Koochiching County sends notices to the owners of the more than 19,000 parcels of property in the county.

The county Board of Equalization meetings are limited to discussion on the market valuation and classification of 2020 for the taxes payable in 2021, county administrative staff have said.

The Board of Equalization is the last board of appeals for a property owner on market value and property classification. The next step is an appeal to the state tax court.

Which meeting?

Property owners may sometimes confuse the Board of Equalization meetings held in June with the meetings conducted in December of each year by the county, cities and school districts.

The December meetings are hearings required by various governments to present the next year’s budget and tax levy to the public. For example, the 2021 budgets and tax levies will be presented at December hearings this year.

The December hearings are limited to discussion about the budget and tax levy; officials may only adjust the budget and levy if deemed appropriate after receiving public comment through the hearing process.

While the market value and classification assessment, and budget and tax levy processes both determine what a property owner will pay in taxes, they are separate processes and authorities.

A property owner seeking relief through valuation/property classification must discuss their issue with the assessor and/or attend a June Board of Equalization meeting, while a property owner seeking relief by its taxing authorities must attend the budget/levy hearings in December.

Where’s the review?

Meanwhile, the Assessor’s Office posted in March on the county’s website that, under state law, the assessor is responsible to review every parcel under their jurisdiction at least once every five years to make sure that the information used to establish market value is accurate and up to date.

Under Minnesota Statute 273.08, the Assessor is responsible to review every parcel under his/her jurisdiction at least every five years to make sure that the information used to establish market value is accurate and up to date.

The areas to be looked at for this year’s quintile will be: Tilson’s area to Almost Lindy’s, parts of the city of International Falls and the northwestern part of Koochiching County, said the Assessor’s page of the county’s website

Assessor’s will be out verifying information on properties to ensure the assessment records are accurate and complete.

“Physically viewing property is very important to fulfilling our responsibility to value property accurately and uniformly.” said the webpage. “During quintile visits, measurements and pictures will be taken of all buildings.”

All assessors carry county ID badges that are visibly displayed and their vehicles are identified as County Vehicles.