06-03-1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--June 3, 1996 1478 City_ Amount of Increase Casselton 10% Kindred 10% Page 20% Alice 5% Amenia 10% Argusville 10% Buffalo 10% Grandin 5% Horace 10% Hunter 5% Leonard 10% Tower City 5% Harwood 3% Prairie Rose 5% Oxbow 10% Mary Jenkins, Fargo, addressed the Board of Equalization and expressed concern about what she believes to be a system of unfair property taxation in Fargo and in Cass County. She referred to the practice of granting extraordinary tax exemptions to new construction, both residential and commercial, at the expense of long-time property owners and those who purchase older homes and buildings. She believes one set of taxpayers are being favored at the expense of others. Richard D. Knutson, Briarwood, addressed the Board and said he will accept the compromise of Mr. Klein's recommendation that his property be valued at $212,000 instead of the value of $226,800 as equalized by the City of Briarwood. Mr. Klein said there was an error in calculating the square footage of the residence, thus his recommendation to lower the value. MOTION, passed Mrs. Schneider moved and Mr. Eckert seconded that the Knutson property be valued at $212,000 for the 1996 assessment. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously. The YMCA tax exempt status of the Y on Broadway is in question, and Mr. Klein said he sent them a notice of increase in real estate assessment. Paul Finstad, YMCA Executive Director, was asked to provide information on how the Y on Broadway meets the definition of a public charity through its programs and services, and they will be given an opportunity to present that information at the recessed meeting of the County Board of Equalization scheduled for 3:30 PM at the Casselton City Hall, Casselton, ND. Mrs. Toussaint asked if anyone in the audience had any further appeals on the equalization of cities, and no one asked to speak at this time. Equalization of townships--Mr. Klein recommended increasing the residential lot and structure values in a number of townships in light of the past year's sales and assessments. MOTION, passed Mrs. Schneider moved and Mr. Ness seconded that the residential lot and structure values be increased in the townships and in the amounts as listed below: On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously.