Rolla council, sitting as Board of Equalization, approves 3% commercial assessment increase; residential unchanged

Rolla City Council, sitting as the Board of Equalization, approved adjustments to the city’s 2026 property assessments at a special meeting on May 20.

The council approved all assessments as presented by the tax director while voting to increase commercial taxable valuation by 3% and to leave residential taxable valuation unchanged. The recommendation presented to the board by Wendy Belgarde, Rolette County Tax Director, and Rebecca Albert, Rolla City Assessor, had been for a 0% change to residential valuation and a 1% change to commercial valuation; the council adopted a larger commercial increase in its motion.

The minutes list notice of increased assessments for three parcels: Matthew and Marian Peterson (Parcel 29-0014-29678-000) with a $15,000 increase; Booth Inc. (Parcel 29-0001-29208-000) with a $14,100 increase; and Tyler Bergsrud (Parcel 29-0028-29902-000) with a $229,200 increase.

Councilmembers discussed aiming for a gradual adjustment in commercial valuations to bring assessments toward a standard median range of 90%–100%, a point raised during the meeting as context for adopting a commercial increase larger than the tax director’s recommendation.

The motion to approve the assessments was made by Councilmember Alex Albert and seconded by Councilmember Damond Schemmel. The roll call in the minutes records votes of “AYE” from William Fritz, Deanna Counts, Alex Albert and Damond Schemmel and a “NAYE” from Paul Frydenlund. The minutes also contain the line "Motion carried unanimously," which is inconsistent with the recorded roll call; the minutes do not explain that contradiction.

The board adjourned at 5:19 p.m. The unofficial minutes were attested in writing by Mayor Kevin Juntunen and City Auditor Tara McDougall.