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Wabasha County approves correction to state-assessed utility and railroad values
Summary
The Wabasha County Board of Commissioners approved a correction to state‑assessed values for utilities and railroads after the county used preliminary July values when the state failed to post October final values. The correction affects 79 parcels and will require 20‑day extensions of tax due dates and individual abatements.
The Wabasha County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a correction to state‑assessed values for utilities and railroads after county staff said final October values from the state were not entered into the system and the county used July preliminary values instead.
County staff told commissioners the error produced an overvaluation of $8,856,700 in assessed value and about $206,800 in taxes spread across seven school districts, eight cities and 16 townships. Staff said the Minnesota Department of Revenue advised processing the adjustment as individual abatements rather than recalculating all taxes.
The county auditor’s office said it has contacted the affected companies — mostly two railroads and several utility firms — and the taxing districts. Staff said three companies had acknowledged the notice, one (Northern States) called after initial nonresponse and one company had not yet replied. Because of when corrected statements will be mailed, staff said state statute requires the county to extend the tax due date by 20 days for the affected taxpayers.
Officials discussed mailing methods and the possibility that some companies may pay the incorrect amount before receiving corrected bills. County staff said overpayments would be handled as refunds rather than credits toward future bills.
Commissioners asked about budget impacts. Staff said the correction reduces the county’s expected collections and that the tax change is spread among multiple taxing jurisdictions; an approximate additional reduction cited during discussion was $72,000 spread across districts. Commissioners noted the county had existing budget shortfalls from the prior year.
A motion to approve the correction passed by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript.
County staff said they expect the abatements to be signed and corrected statements mailed within the coming week, after which affected taxpayers will be billed with the extended 20‑day due date specified by statute.
Ending: The board moved on to commissioner reports after the vote. The county auditor’s office will follow up with formal abatement documentation, notices to taxing jurisdictions, and the corrected tax statements.
