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Griggs County tax director asks board for extension on reassessment amid legislative changes
Summary
Tax director Linda told commissioners she will seek an extension from the State Board of Equalization to finish a countywide reassessment because recent legislative changes and new appraisal software will delay completion until early 2027.
Linda, Griggs County’s tax director, told commissioners on Sept. 22 that she will request an extension from the State Board of Equalization to complete the county’s reassessment.
Linda said the board approved a countywide reassessment in 2023 and that legislative changes, together with a transition to new tax and appraisal software (Vanguard), make it unlikely the reassessment will be finished by 2026. She said she will ask the State Board of Equalization for an extension to February 2027.
Linda outlined several specific process changes the state is requiring: separate valuation treatments for cropland and noncropland using modifiers; new requirements to create valuation records for farm-exempt properties (the property would be assessed internally but the assessed value would not necessarily appear as a taxable value on owners’ statements); and broader requirement to create baseline valuations for exempt property owners such as churches and nonprofits. Linda said those requirements substantially increase the workload and that Griggs County does not currently have complete valuation records for exempt properties.
She asked commissioners to identify a board member or township officer who could work with her as the county implements procedural changes. Commissioners discussed whether townships would retain primary responsibility for valuations; Linda said townships remain responsible but the county is ultimately accountable if townships do not complete required work.
Linda also said the Vanguard system has been installed on county and Cooperstown computers and that training for the Cooperstown assessor is scheduled. She noted the reassessment timing and legislative requirements should be considered in the 2026 budget process and asked the board to discuss her contract, which expires next month, at the Oct. 6 meeting.
Commissioners agreed to discuss Linda’s contract and to make staff available for coordination on the reassessment work and outreach to townships.
