Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Assessment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cole County assessor outlines plan to reassess residential parcels and send impact notices in 2026
Summary
Assessor staff told commissioners they plan to reassess residential parcels countywide, increase postage and field-inspector capacity, and stagger impact notices so homeowners can request interior inspections if proposed increases exceed 15%. The plan will raise postage and mileage budgets for 2026.
The Cole County assessor presented a countywide reappraisal approach during the commission’s Dec. 2 budget hearing, saying the office intends to expand field inspections and send impact notices to homeowners when proposed value increases exceed statutory thresholds.
The assessor (Speaker 9) said the office plans to spread notices across a 12-month period and follow up with geographically organized interior inspections for owners who request them. "If we increase the appraised value of a property by more than 15%, we have to send an impact notice to that homeowner," the assessor explained, adding the office cleared the plan with the state tax commission.
To support the effort, the assessor requested increases to postage (proposed to $50,000), mileage and programming for field-work software and iPad-based inspections. He said the office has added field inspectors and will use Michael Hernandez, a certified appraiser, for residential valuations.
Commissioners asked about timing; the assessor said notices could begin in spring 2026 with fieldwork to follow. The plan anticipates more interior-inspection requests than in previous cycles and carries an estimated increase in operating costs tied to staff time and travel.
Next steps: Commissioners asked the assessor to return with implementation details and schedules and to coordinate with auditors and the state tax commission on statutory timelines.
