Berrien County equalization director recommends no assessment adjustments after review

Warren, Berrien County's equalization director, told the Board of Commissioners that his office is recommending a factor of 1 for all property classes after this year's annual equalization review, meaning no countywide upward or downward adjustment to assessment levels.

The recommendation follows 77 appraisal studies, about 1,000 individual appraisals, 33 sales studies and reviews across roughly 190 assessment levels, Warren said. He reported an overall equalized-value increase of 7.6 percent for the current year — down from last year’s roughly 16 percent rise — and said taxable value, the figure used to compute property taxes, rose about 3.46 percent this year compared with 7.36 percent last year.

Warren said the change in taxable value is correlated with the inflation-rate multiplier used in state law to compute taxable values in increasing markets. He told commissioners the full equalization report, including municipality-level details and the associated equalizing resolution and paperwork, will be provided at next week’s meeting for formal action.

Warren described the equalization presentation as a high-level summary and invited questions; he stressed that assessors must return to approved assessment rolls in March to meet the statutory standard (to be within roughly 49–50 percent of true cash value), and that his recommended factor of 1 indicates the county-wide assessment levels are in compliance.

The board did not take final action on the equalization resolution at the session; Warren said the written materials and formal documents will be presented at the next meeting for the board’s consideration.

Warren also recognized appraisal staff who completed certifications this year and said the office is building a more credentialed team, naming Tanya and Kayla among staff entering certification programs and noting long service from other employees.