▼

County Assessor

Show All Answers

1. Why does my assessment schedule or tax notice show improvements when I haven't made any?

This refers to any improvements ever made to the land, the value you see there includes any structures on your land (i.e. home, barn, garage, decks, etc.).

2. When will I be able to view my taxes and property information online?

Now! We have information available to search online. This information includes taxes, ownership, legals, and values. We have building information including year built, square footage, etc., and photos and sketches if available.

3. When and why does the assessor's office visit my house?

There are a few reasons we do site visits to property. One of the main reasons is if we have gotten a building permit or seen that you are building something new on your land, such as a home or garage / shop. Field appraisers are out all year round measuring new construction.

Another reason we may be at your property is because of reviews. The state requires that we physically review every property in the county at least once every four years. To make this more time efficient we visit 1/4 of the county each year.

We are also required to verify ownership of all mobile homes every year. If we cannot reach an owner by phone will will drive to the home and speak to them or leave a door hanger for them to call us.

Finally we will come out to your house if you request it during appeals time. We would do this if you believed that we had the home valued too high or low and wanted to show us what defects or improvements would affect the value, that we may have missed.

4. What is my home's legal description?

If you live in a subdivision, your legal is the subdivision name and usually a lot and block number. If you live in an area that is not subdivided (unplatted) your legal is your township, range, section, and a directional description such as the northeast quarter. Your legal description would be listed on your deed or you can call our office and we can look it up for you.

5. How do I find out who owns the house next or across from me etc.?

Give us a call and we can look it up. The easiest way to look is by address. If that doesn’t work come in to the office and if you can point it out on a map we can find out that way.

6. What is the Statement of Consideration I filled out when I closed on my house?

It is a form we use to find out if your sale can be used to help appraise other properties. If we can determine that you purchased your home for a fair market price (you were a willing buyer, had a willing seller, and neither of you where under pressure), and have the sale price of the home on the statement, we can use that information to help us keep our values at fair market.

7. Why can't I find out what my neighbor paid for his house?

The information given to us on the Statement of Consideration has been deemed confidential by state statute. The only time a person can see price paid is during the 30 day appeals period. Even then the only ones they can view are comparable sales we used to value their home. Also they cannot share that information with anyone not involved in the appeal.

8. Where can I get a map of my lot?

The assessor’s office has maps you can look at and we can make a copy for you. However if you live in a subdivision and you want a map that will show the dimensions of your lot you will have to get it from the vault in the clerk’s office. All they need is your legal description and they can get a map for you.

9. What can I do to make sure the assessor's office has the right information about my property?

Come on in! We would be happy to go over all the information we have on your property with you.

10. Why am I still getting a tax notice for a property I sold? / Why is there a name on my notice that shouldn't be there anymore?

Generally the answer would be that the deed was not filed until after January 1. State statute says that we must send assessments and tax notices to the owners of record as of January 1. The treasurer’s office does send a copy of the notice to the new owner if we have the information available. If the deed was done before January 1 it is possible that there was an error on it or that it was not filed with the clerk’s office until after January 1. Feel free to give us a call and we will look into it.

11. Is there anything I need to do with the assessment schedule you send me each April / May?

If you are satisfied with the value we have placed on your property and all the information on the schedule looks correct, you needn’t do a thing. It is simply for your information and to let you know about what your taxes will be. However, if your are not satisfied with your value or there is a possible mistake, you need to come into our office so we can go over it with you. At that time you have an opportunity to file a formal appeal. That appeal must be filed within 30 days of the mail date on your assessment.

12. I want to file an appeal on my value, what do I do?

First, come into the office, we will go over all the information with you and make sure we don’t have any mistakes. Then we will explain why we placed that value on your property. If this doesn’t satisfy you, you have 30 days from the day your assessment was mailed to file a formal appeal. That is the only time you can file. Please see the appeals section of this web site for more information on appealing a value.

13. What forms of tax relief are available at the assessor's office?

The assessor’s office offers two types of tax relief. One is for Veterans and the other is for having mineral’s on your deeded surface land.

14. I am already signed up for the Veteran's exemption, I use it to help pay for my property tax but I always seem to forget when to come in and sign. What can I do?

You have to sign up by the fourth Monday in May of the current tax year. Make sure your mailing address is current with our office and a reminder letter is mailed after January 1.  You may call our office or come in to sign the card every year.

15. Can I pay my taxes at your office?

No, we do not collect the taxes. They must be paid at the treasurer's office.

16. When are taxes due, and can I pay early?

Tax notices usually get mailed out in September, although state statutes say that they can be mailed anytime before October 10. You cannot pay your taxes early unless you are moving a mobile home or transferring title on a mobile home. There are a few options for when you can pay your taxes. The first half is due September 1 of the current tax year but not delinquent until after November 10. The second half is due March 1 of the next tax year but not delinquent until May 10. You also have the option of paying all taxes by December 31 of the current tax year without penalties.

17. How do I move a mobile home?

The proper way to move a mobile home is by obtaining a move sheet. In order to get a move sheet come to the assessor’s office. We will pull the paper work on your mobile home and get some information about it, any new owner(s), and where it is going. You will need to have the exact address where it is moving unless it is going out of the county. If at all possible you will also need to have the title or at least a copy. You must pay all of the current year’s taxes in order to get a move sheet. We will figure those for you and then you will go to the treasurer's office. They will make sure that all outstanding and current taxes are paid before issuing a move sheet. Give the move sheet to your moving company and be sure it is moved in 30 days or the move sheet expires.

18. I'm selling my mobile home, is there anything I need to do with your office?

Yes, please contact our office when you sell your mobile home. We need to know who the new owners are, their mailing address, and phone number(s). If you don’t make sure we have this information correct the tax notices may still come to you. You will also need to make the taxes current with the treasurer in order to transfer the title.

19. What is personal property, and why do I have to list it for my business?

Personal property consists of every kind of property that is not real property; it is moveable without damage to itself or the real estate; basically it is all of your furniture, fixtures and equipment for the business. It can be anything from desks and computers to tools and machinery. State statute requires that we tax personal property for businesses. It includes any property used in the business, even if it is a desk and computer at home that you also use for personal use.

20. What do I do with the declaration schedule of personal property that I just got in the mail?

All declaration schedules must be returned to the assessor’s office by March 1 each year. If you are a new business you must fill out the form, listing all of your property, the year you got it and how much you paid for it. If you don’t remember what you paid, list it for the current year with an estimate of value. If you are a current business and the form is blank please fill it in like a new business. If you don’t we will have to estimate the value of your property. If the form is filled in, you must verify that what we have on the form is correct and make any additions or corrections that are needed. Sign the form and return it to our office by March 1.