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County equalization director presents 2025 valuation report showing slower growth in assessed values
Summary
The county’s annual equalization report showed continued increases in equalized and taxable values in 2025 but at a slower rate than prior years; assessed value (SEV) rose about 9% and taxable value rose about 6% from the prior year, driven mainly by residential activity and uncappings.
An official identified in the meeting as the county equalization presenter reviewed the Barry County 2025 equalization report at the April 1 Committee of the Whole meeting. "Over the last two weeks, we've received the assessment rolls from the townships. We've taken a look at them, audit them, and what we're looking at is to ensure that the valuation changes from last year to this year were appropriately accounted for," the presenter said.
The presenter said the report’s summary (Form L-4024) lists recommended equalized values by classification and township and that the county equalizes assessed values (SEV), not taxable values. The presenter reported that the county’s total SEV increase this year is about 9% (down from over 12% the prior year) and that taxable value increased about 5.99% compared with 8.6% the year before. The presenter attributed the slower growth to a lower inflation-rate multiplier (about 3.1% for the year) and slower market turnover: "We're just seeing a slowdown, meaning houses are staying in the market a little bit longer. We have less sales," the presenter said.
The presenter noted geographic variation across townships: Baltimore Township (listed at 14.9%), Hope Township (13.2%) and Prairieville (11.88%) were among the higher-percent changes, driven generally by new construction and uncapping after sales; other townships showed smaller increases. The presenter cautioned that SEV and taxable-value growth do not translate directly into equivalent property tax revenue increases because exemptions (for example, disabled-veteran exemptions) and military reduction fractions affect collections.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about which townships contributed the most new construction and why colors in the visual report displayed different percent bands; the presenter said Thornapple, Hastings City and Orangeville had the majority of new-construction value added. The presenter said the report includes multiyear trend pages and township-level detail for commissioners’ review.
The report was presented for committee review; the presenter said the full county board must meet to approve equalized valuations as a formal step in the process.
