06-07-1993 SPECIAL - Laserfiche WebLink

Comm. Minutes, Special Mtg.--June 7, 1993 1034 SPECIAL MEETING OF CASS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 1993 BOARD OF EQUALIZATION MEETING JUNE 7, 1993--11:00 AM MEETING TO ORDER Chairman Sharon "Pepper" Toussaint called the meeting of the 1993 Cass County Board of Equalization to order with members present as follows: Don Eckert, Steve Risher, Bernie Ness and Sharon "Pepper" Toussaint. Alon Wieland was absent. Also present were Frank Klein, County Director of Tax Equalization; Mary Heaton and Mitch Marcuson from the Fargo City Assessor's Office; John Brayton, Kindred City Assessor; and Ione Johnson, Howes and Buffalo Township Assessor. Mr. Klein provided Commissioners with a written report and at this time, highlighted some of the report's statistics. He said there is a 3.83% increase between the 1992 and 1993 net taxable value. EQUALIZATION OF CITIES Mr. Klein recommends increasing residential structure values in 3 cities because some cities actively adjust values to market and other do not. These adjustments will put these city assessments in line with the market and with other cities in the county. MOTION, passed Mr. Ness moved and Mr. Risher seconded that the residential structure values be increased 10% in Casselton City, 7% in Kindred City, and 5% in Prairie Rose City. Discussion: John Brayton, Assessor from Kindred, asked the Commission to increase the values by only 5% to decrease the "shock". Then next year he could even out valuations within Kindred. Mr. Klein said he and Mr. Brayton talked about a 10% increase. Mr. Brayton increased valuations by 3%; therefore, Mr. Klein is asking for a 7% increase. He said this is a moderate increase. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously. EQUALIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS Mr. Klein is recommending increases in residential structure values in numerous townships due to the strong rural residential market because of limited number of properties on the market and to underassessed valuations because of inactive markets in certain areas. Ione Johnson, Assessor for Buffalo and Howes Townships, said it will be difficult to equalize if there is a 20% increase across the board.