Fall River County equalization board approves annual tax-exempt list and dozens of parcel valuation adjustments

The Fall River Consolidated Board of Equalization met April 17, 2025, and approved the county'wide annual tax-exempt property list and a package of property valuation adjustments and tax-relief approvals affecting properties across Edgemont, Hot Springs and Oelrichs.

Chairman Joe Falkenburg called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. and, after roll call and oaths of office, the board approved minutes from the local boards. "Motion made by Joe Falkenburg, seconded by Les Cope," the minutes record. The board then accepted the annual exemption list and the new applicants filed by the March 15, 2025 deadline pursuant to SDCL 10-4-15.1 and related statutes.

The exemption list — published annually under SDCL 10-4-15.1 — includes 100% benevolent/charity or religious exemptions for numerous organizations, with examples on the published list such as Mt View Lodge No. 161, American Legion Post No. 71, Boys & Girls Club of the Black Hills, the Fall River County Fair & Recreation Association, and multiple churches, cemetery associations and nonprofit health providers. The board also approved one new applicant, Fall River Thrift Store Inc., for a Hot Springs parcel.

On valuations and tax-relief programs, the board approved staff-recommended changes and counts for relief programs applied to 2025 values (taxes payable 2026). The minutes show the Elderly/Disabled assessment freeze moved from 124 prior approvals with 30 new to a current 138 (16 removed); the Disabled Veteran exemption moved from 125 prior with 18 new to a current 137 (4 removed); and an overall reported tally of prior 250, new 48, current 276 and 20 removed across listed programs. Motion to approve valuations and reductions was made by Joe Allen and seconded by Deb Russell.

A series of stipulations and parcel-specific adjustments were approved by motion, covering structure-value corrections, building removals, classification changes (for example, owner-occupied status), ag adjustments and parcel combinations. Sample entries in the minutes show adjustments to building or land values for named parcels (for example, Artz: adjustment to structure value; Bent Pine Properties: removal of building value; Golden Rock LLC: income-based adjustments; Green: correction of a data-entry error). Those stipulations list original and adjusted land and building values for each property as recorded in the minutes.

The board processed numerous motions to approve or to take no action on individual parcels; motions were moved and seconded by commissioners (noted in the minutes as Russell, Wahlert, Cope and Allen) and were recorded in the minutes. The board agreed to move the appeal proceedings for Daniel Merrill to Tuesday, April 22, 2025 (motion by Sandra Wahlert, seconded by Deb Russell).

All motions recorded in these minutes were passed, the minutes note, by unanimous vote unless otherwise stated; the minutes also specify that only commissioners vote on tax-exempt properties and that municipal representatives abstain from items outside their jurisdiction. Chairman Joe Falkenburg declared the meeting adjourned at 4:44 p.m.; the minutes were attested by Auditor Sue Ganje.

Votes at a glance: approve minutes (motion carried); approve annual exemption list including new applicant Fall River Thrift Store Inc. (motion carried; municipal representative abstentions where applicable); approve valuations and tax-relief program adjustments (motion carried); approve multiple parcel stipulations and classification changes (motions carried); move Daniel Merrill appeal to April 22, 2025 (motion carried).