Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Tax Equalization topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Equalization director reports 6.32% countywide valuation increase; appeals deadline April 7
Summary
Michelle Gokin, Yankton County Director of Equalization, reported a countywide unaudited valuation of $3,497,459,228 and a 6.32% increase for 2026, described appeal deadlines and explained how recent state law changes affect growth calculations.
Michelle Gokin, Director of Equalization, told the Yankton County Commission on March 17 that the county's unaudited valuation for 2026 is $3,497,459,228 and that countywide assessed values increased 6.32% from the prior year.
Gokin outlined the appeal timeline: assessment notices were mailed March 1 and property owners have until April 7 to file written appeals to the local board (organized towns and townships), with consolidated board openings set for April 14 and consolidated hearings on April 24. "March 1 assessment notices were mailed... April 7 is the last day for anyone to appeal," Gokin said.
Gokin explained that valuation changes reflect market conditions and recent state law (Senate Bill 216) that narrowed what counts as growth for owner‑occupied properties: the county may only count new value as growth in a narrow set of circumstances, which reduces the growth factor available for budgeting. "This year... if it's an owner‑occupied residence, we could only count it as growth if it was 40% more than the previous assessment," she told commissioners.
The presentation included data on agricultural productivity adjustments (crop soils +2.39%, grass soils +1.93%), TIF base and increment values, and parcel counts reviewed during the year's reappraisal (about 1,300 parcels physically reviewed). Commissioners voted to accept the equalization report on the record and to schedule appeals activity as described.
What happens next: property owners who wish to appeal must submit written appeals by April 7; consolidated hearings will be opened April 14 with the main consolidated hearing set for April 24.
