Property Tax Statements & Valuation Notices are being mailed; LBAE meetings are scheduled
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By Gretta Becay

In the spring of each year, Minnesota property owners receive two important documents from the county where the property is located. This year, the documents are the Property Tax Statement for 2020 and the Valuation Notice for 2021. The Valuation Notice lists the proposed value of their property. Property taxes for next year are calculated using that value.

If the state is still under a ‘shelter-in-place,’ order, the meeting may change to a virtual meeting format where taxpayers would submit their appeals in writing or they would attend by phone.

These meetings may be changed to virtual formats, so property owners are urged to call the Land Records department for up-to-date details. The number to call is (507) 635-6245.

DeCook noted, “We always recommend that you call our department first. The taxpayer and appraiser may be able to work out the issue or answer the question before a meeting. Our appraisers are working out of the office now so the callback times may be longer than normal.”

DeCook also noted that valuations must follow state guidelines. He explained that, “The Department of Revenue measures the Assessors’ performance by comparing county property value to properties that have sold. Property sales in the county are closely monitored by members of the staff in the Assessor’s Office. If Assessors’ valuations are outside of a 90 to 105 per cent range of the sale amounts, changes must be made or property in the county is subject to State Board Adjustments. If the Assessors do not adjust valuations, the Department of Revenue has the authority to make those adjustments.”