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Dunn County board approves equalization report after staff explains soil-based valuations
Summary
After staff explained how soil productivity figures from NDSU and NRCS produced differing quarter-to-quarter values, the Dunn County board approved the county board of equalization report and noted an adjustment to the taxable base.
DUNN COUNTY — The Dunn County board approved the county board of equalization report after hearing staff explain why some adjoining parcels were valued differently and confirming the county followed state valuation sources.
A resident told the board he had not filed for a farm exemption and asked for leniency, saying, “I failed to apply for my farm exemption,” and noting his son works on the farm. County staff responded that the state deadline for approving exemptions for the current year had passed and that staff must be able to produce the original application if the county is audited.
“Appeals on those soil values would have to go through NRCS and the state,” a county staff member, Holly, said, adding that she sets county values to align with NDSU and state reports. Holly told the board she had adjusted cropland values down 2% and non‑crop values down 6% to match NDSU figures and that the office had mailed assessment notices and handled about 15 phone calls from residents questioning their assessments.
Before the vote, staff provided a revised taxable total, saying the county’s taxable base would move from $45,121,788 to $44,961,014 — a net decrease of $673,520 in taxable dollars. Commissioner Pelton moved to accept the board of equalization report with the adjustment to the city of Kildair; Commissioner Heiser seconded the motion.
The board held a roll-call vote. Commissioners Heiser, Olsen, Pilton, Kleman and Dell all recorded “yes” and the chair declared the motion carried. Board members thanked Holly and staff for their work on the assessments.
The action approves the county’s equalization report as presented; staff said residents who missed the exemption deadline would be added to next year’s application list and that any soil-based valuation appeals must proceed through the state or NRCS processes.
What happens next: the board recessed into an executive session on a separate matter later in the meeting (see companion article).
