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Wabasha County approves 10-month property tax abatement for home destroyed in December fire
Summary
The Wabasha County Board approved a 10-month property tax abatement for a home in Elgin Township that burned in December while the owners rebuild; the county will inspect progress in October and reassess value January 2.
The Wabasha County Board of Commissioners on a voice vote approved a 10-month property tax abatement for a home in Elgin Township that was destroyed by a fire in December, county staff said.
County auditor Josh (last name not specified) told the board the house was a “complete loss” after firefighters fought the blaze for nearly 12 hours. The assessor’s office calculated an abatement covering 10 months of taxes because the homeowners expect to move into a rebuilt house in September or October, the auditor said.
The abatement was approved after a motion by Commissioner Springer and a second by Commissioner Powers; commissioners voted orally with the chair saying the motion carries.
County staff said they will perform a check-in visit in October and will use the January 2 valuation date to place a new value on the property. If the rebuild is not complete within the timeframe the homeowners stated, they must apply for an extension, the auditor said. The property was identified in discussion as located on 280 Seventh Avenue in Elgin Township.
The board did not cite a specific ordinance or statute during the discussion; the auditor described the abatement as an assessor-recommended adjustment while the property remains under reconstruction.
No public testimony was recorded on the item.
The action leaves the homeowners’ tax liability reduced for the period the property was uninhabitable, with a return to normal assessment procedures once the new value is set on Jan. 2.
