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Stark County Board of Equalization sets 2026 valuations after resident appeal
Summary
The Board of Equalization approved 2026 market and taxable values for five small cities, Dickinson and the county total. A Dickinson resident urged the county not to raise his value following a recent state reassessment; commissioners left his parcel at the city's reduced figure.
The Stark County Board of Equalization met during the county commission session to review and approve 2026 market and taxable values for municipal and county property rolls.
Natalie Wandler, Stark County tax director, presented the valuation worksheets and explained that residential values across the county rose about 5% for 2026; several small cities reported modest increases driven by limited new construction. The board approved market and taxable values for Bellfield, Southport, Gladstone, Taylor and Richardson by roll call votes.
When the board reached the City of Dickinson totals, a resident who identified himself in the meeting record as Mr. Steinbach spoke in public comment. He said his value had been subject to multiple adjustments in the previous year after city and state assessments. "They raised it 9 and a quarter percent ... and the state had just been down here and reevaluated it and reduced it," he said, urging the county not to increase his 2026 value above $309,900. Tax staff and Dickinson city representatives explained that interim state corrections and standard trending calculations had produced the larger percentage shown in earlier paperwork; the corrected figure the board had before it for 2026 was $309,900 and the board allowed that figure to stand.
After discussion the commission moved to accept Dickinson's totals and then approved the countywide market and taxable valuations for 2026 by unanimous roll-call votes.
What happened next: the board confirmed county totals and closed the Board of Equalization portion of the meeting. Tax director Wandler noted details such as homestead and veteran credits and how the county submits mitigation or mitigation-credit documentation (for example, Ducks Unlimited wetland credits) to the Army Corps as part of permitting.
