Budget committee approves 2025 local board of appeal and equalization schedule; assessor warns of valuation-system conversion issues

The Minneapolis City Budget Committee voted Friday to approve the 2025 Local Board of Appeal and Equalization schedule after a briefing from City Assessor Rebecca Malmquist. Malmquist said valuation and classification notices will be mailed on March 24 and that the local board will convene April 15 at 10 a.m. at City Hall.

The committee's action clears the administrative step needed to publish notices and proceed with the appeals calendar. Chair Ayesha Chuktai moved approval; the motion carried with seven affirmative votes and no objections.

Malquist told the committee her office finalized 2025 market values as of Jan. 2 and that the mailed notices will show owners how their 2025 valuations and classifications compare with 2024. "When property owners receive their notices, they should definitely review them. And if they have questions, need to contact our office," Malmquist said, noting that each notice includes contact information for the appraiser assigned to the property.

The assessor said the 2025 assessment was the first performed on the department's new computer-aided mass appraisal (CAMA) system from vendor Tyler Technologies and cautioned that data conversions of this size can produce errors. "No conversion of this much data and state property tax classification and calculations can be 100% seamless as much as we would have loved," Malmquist said. She asked property owners to contact the assessor's office if they see incorrect information on their notices so staff can resolve issues where possible.

Malquist also said she will return to the committee on March 24 to present the 2025 assessment report and to seek formal appointments to the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization. On that date, she said, her office will provide a presentation for council aides on the assessment process, appeals, and available resources to help staff handle resident inquiries.

The assessor announced the imminent retirement of Nancy Wojcick, the department's director of assessments. Malmquist described Wojcick as having more than 30 years in the profession and noted her prior work for Hennepin County and Brooklyn Center and her service as a past president of the Minnesota Association of Assessing Officers.

The committee did not amend policy or set any new valuation rules at the meeting; it approved the agenda item that enables the assessor's office to proceed with mailing notices and scheduling the local board hearing. The committee adjourned after the vote.