Ramsey County commissioners vote to reduce 2026 assessed values by 4%

Ramsey County commissioners voted to lower county property assessment values by 4% for the 2026 assessment cycle after the county assessor recommended the cut to keep the county inside the state tolerance band.

Beth, the county assessor (first reported in the meeting transcript as "Beth"), told the board that most counties saw reductions in land and agricultural values and recommended a 4% decrease so the county stays closer to a 95% target within the allowable 90–100% tolerance. "My recommendation would be to go to the 4% decrease," Beth said, citing changes in the crop production index and capitalization rates as drivers of the statewide reduction.

Commission discussion touched on the difference between a 3% and 4% decrease and the county's recent switch to Sidwell valuation software; several commissioners expressed concern about being "too close" to the tolerance threshold if a smaller reduction were adopted. One commissioner moved to reduce values by 4%; a second was recorded and the chair declared the motion carried after a voice/roll-call exchange. The transcript records the motion and that it carried, but does not include a full, named roll-call tally for this item.

Why it matters: the assessor's change affects taxable values used to compute property taxes and will determine notices sent to taxpayers in the coming weeks. The assessor said the final calculations and taxpayer notices require completing internal processes and the state's data inputs.

Next steps: staff will complete the assessment processing and send notices to taxpayers as required in the assessment schedule.