County auditor explains House File 718 tax mailing; Woodbury County hearing set for March 31

County Auditor Michelle Scaff explained the contents and purpose of the tax-notice mailing under House File 718 and answered board questions about how the notice displays school, county (Woodbury County) and city proposed maximum tax amounts.

"First of all, this is not a tax bill," Scaff told the board, explaining the notice is informational and shows the maximum amounts each authority could request; the amounts are subject to public hearings and may be reduced. She walked the board through the notice’s sections: the top shows the school district portion and contact information; the middle shows the county portion (Woodbury County) and the proposed dollar amount and maximum property-tax rate; and the bottom shows city information for residents who live in incorporated areas.

Scaff said the notice includes example calculations for a $110,000 residential property and a $330,000 commercial property (the template comes from the state and must be used as provided). She reiterated that the figures represent the maximum request and that recent practice in the county has been for adopted levies to fall below the maximum published in the notice.

She also noted mailing and timing details: county tax-assessment notices will be mailed around March 13 and must be postmarked by March 15; the Woodbury County budget hearing was set for March 31 at 4:00 p.m. at the courthouse basement. Scaff encouraged residents to attend hearings or call the auditor’s office with questions.