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Becker County assessor reports negative trend for agricultural land after prior statewide adjustments
Summary
Assessor Lee told commissioners recent adjusted‑sales calculations show a -2.7% trend for some land classes; commissioners asked for bare‑land sales evidence ahead of next week's valuation hearing and discussed prior statewide adjustments that had previously increased assessed values substantially.
Becker County’s assessor gave an update on proposed property values and state adjusted‑sales trends, telling commissioners the county’s current data show a negative 2.7 percent trend for the assessment class under review.
Lee told the board his latest figures — drawn from sales between October 2024 and September 2025 — indicate downward pressure in farmland and rural vacant parcels. "I just checked, and we had a negative 2.7 trend this year," Lee said, adding staff could compile bare‑land sales records for the board’s review ahead of the next hearing.
Several commissioners raised concerns about last year’s state adjustments. One commissioner said Becker County had been "the highest in the state at over 20%" in a prior adjusted‑sales action and suggested that local appraisals appeared to exceed observed market transactions. Lee agreed to prepare a list of recent bare‑land sales for the board and noted the state’s adjusted‑sales procedure reduces or increases values based on rolling period sales trends.
Commissioners asked staff to prepare documentation for the public valuation hearing and to spell out the relationship between local proposed values, state adjusted sales, and the downward trend so residents have clear evidence to review. The assessor did not request immediate action; staff will return with sales data and recommended next steps at the January valuation meeting.
Next steps: assessor to compile and present bare‑land sales evidence and trend calculations at the next board meeting/hearing so commissioners and property owners can evaluate the proposed values before final decisions.
