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Grant County assessor presents 2026 assessment review; farmland falls, lakeshore and many residential values rise
Summary
At a Grant County Board of Appeal meeting, county staff reviewed the 2026 property assessment: countywide median ratio 96.13%; agricultural land values fell ~7.5%, Pelican Lake shore values rose about 6%; Herman values were reduced ~30%; no State Board of Equalization changes were made.
Frank presented the Grant County Board of Appeal with the county's 2026 property-assessment review, saying the countywide median assessment ratio was 96.13% and that shifts in sales patterns produced mixed changes across property types. "Assessors, we are expected to assess properties at 100% of market," he told the board, describing the study period and methodology.
The presentation covered sales from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2025, and explained the ratio calculation (assessed value divided by sale price), statistical outlier treatment and measures such as the coefficient of dispersion. Frank said foreclosure sales have declined (two this year) and the assessor's office had 76 "good" residential sales in the study period, which left the countywide median near the target and limited the need for mass value changes.
Key numerical findings presented by Frank included a county median ratio of 96.13%, township totals down about 4.18% driven largely by agricultural (ag) land values that fell roughly 7.5%, and an increase in lakefront values in several lake jurisdictions. He noted on-water properties rose more than off-water properties and said Pelican Lake shore values were increased about 6% for the 2026 assessment cycle.
Frank described a technical change in land valuation that affected certain cities: after reworking land calculations to consider lot area (not just front footage), some locations such as Herman were adjusted. Herman had been the county median sale last year, which produced a large increase in 2025; for 2026 the office applied analytics and revaluations and reported a roughly 30% reduction in Herman's values to correct high ratios.
The assessor also walked commissioners through treatment of special sales and classification issues. He recounted a property on Big Island Road where a court-certified survey and an adverse-possession determination increased a homeowner's lakeshore frontage to 99 feet; the homeowner (Tom Lumayer) had called to say he remained unhappy with the higher assessed value. Frank explained how personal property and sale components (for example, docks or furnishings) were handled when separating taxable land value from personal property or business personal property.
Frank reviewed farmland figures as well: for 2026 the average sales price per acre and median figures were presented, with tillable acres and CRP/RIM sales driving some short-term variation. He said tillable land assessments were reduced about 7.5% and that non-tillable classes (pasture, woods, waste) rose roughly $200 per acre.
On administrative matters, Frank said the State Board of Equalization did not make changes to Grant County's estimated market values this cycle. He invited board members to follow up with assessor staff for additional sales information. The board adjourned at 5:27 p.m.
The presentation did not include any formal motions or votes during the meeting; no appeals were heard at this session.
