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Des Moines County assessor urges property owners to check April assessment notices, explains appeal process
Summary
County assessor explained why 2025 assessment notices are mailed now, how they relate to later tax years, and described the April appeals window and May board-of-review hearings.
Des Moines County’s assessor addressed residents at the April 1 board meeting to explain a flurry of valuation documents in mailboxes and to outline the appeal process for the county’s 2025 assessment notices.
“On anytime value changes, assessed values change, we have to send a letter out showing that change in value,” the assessor said, explaining that 2025 assessed values are for taxes payable in late 2026 and spring 2027. The assessor told the board that overlapping schedules — taxpayers finishing payments on 2023 valuations, governments budgeting on 2024 valuations, and assessors mailing 2025 notices — create confusion in the spring calendar.
The assessor emphasized that the assessor’s office operates independently from cities, counties and schools and that valuations are intended to reflect fair market value rather than a jurisdiction’s budget needs. “We don’t value property based on budgetary needs for tax amenities,” the assessor said.
If a property owner believes the assessed value is incorrect, the assessor urged taxpayers to file a petition during April and prepare to meet the county Board of Review in May. The assessor described the Board of Review as “a 3-member body…separate from our office” that evaluates evidence submitted by taxpayers.
Ending: The assessor closed by inviting taxpayers with questions to contact the assessor’s office for help reviewing valuations or filing appeals; the office will continue to accept inquiries through the posted April appeal window.
