Assessor: Morris City property values rose about 15% in 2024 sales study

Craig Swanson, Seams County Assessor, presented the county's sales study used to set 2025 values and said strong local sales pushed many appraisals upward. The study covered sales from Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024, and included 74 residential sales, two residential vacant-lot sales and nine commercial sales; staff recorded 44 new parcels of construction totaling about $9.3 million (roughly $8.5 million of that in commercial improvements).

Swanson said average assessed-value increases in Morris City were about 15% and outlined the state's required ratio checks: assessors must target a sales-to-assessment ratio that meets the state threshold range (roughly 90% to 105% of sale price) and the county median must fall within the required band. He explained that when ratios fall outside the band, assessors must raise or lower values to comply.

He said the assessor's office had received a dozen phone inquiries from Morris residents after preliminary notices and had made three reductions after property inspections and documentation (examples included lowering a $269,800 valuation to $222,000 and adjusting a house from $540,000 to about $507,100). Swanson described typical reasons for reductions: measurement errors, previously unrecorded interior conditions or structural/maintenance issues (he cited a case of basement structural failure).

Swanson also reminded the board that members must complete state "Board of Appeal" training (an online Minnesota Department of Revenue module) to serve; training takes about 30 minutes and is valid for four years. He said the state now leaves the training open year-round and emphasized the office's continuing work to reconcile sales-based adjustments with state rules.

The council had no further questions and the presentation concluded with no formal action required.