Mercer County approves updated assessed values; taxable value rises 5.13%

Mercer County commissioners approved updated countywide assessed values following a presentation by Tax Director Jen Neumiller, raising the county's total taxable value 5.13% to $54,732,999.

Neumiller told the Board of Equalization that North Dakota law requires uniform valuation for tax purposes and that assessments are compared to sales to meet state tolerance rates (ND Century Code 57-02-27.1). "North Dakota law requires the Assessor's Office to uniformly and fairly value all parcels of land and buildings for tax purposes," she said, adding that the county uploaded sale data to the state and reviewed sales ratios.

Neumiller said residential sales were higher than previous assessments, driving increases that varied by class: lake-area residential parcels rose about 3–4%, rural parcels increased roughly 6–7%, commercial properties averaged about a 3% increase, and agricultural land decreased slightly more than 3%. She said the assessor's office identified roughly $15,000,000 in new construction and other previously unassessed buildings and sent 110 notices of increase to affected property owners. Mercer County reported 304 homestead credits, 78 veteran credits and 161 farm-exempt applications.

Commissioner Mark Pierce moved to approve the assessed values as presented; Commissioner Rick Bauman seconded. The motion carried with all voting aye.

The Board adjourned the equalization portion and returned to the regular meeting before adjourning at 10:39 a.m. The commission's next regular meeting is scheduled for June 18, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in the Mercer County Government Center boardroom in Stanton. Meetings are viewable online at www.mercercountynd.com.