South Iowa News

The 2023 residential property reappraisal has been completed. Assessment notices are being mailed to property owners on Friday, Feb. 17th. The values should not be confused with taxable value or the tax bill.

 Vanguard Appraisals, Inc. of Cedar Rapids was contracted to digitize and reappraise all Residential and Ag Dwelling class of property in Decatur County for the 2023 assessment year.

 The last complete reappraisal of these properties was completed in 1984. The current reappraisal was conducted to meet the State of Iowa requirement to use the most recent Property Appraisal Manual and equalize assessed values since not all properties decrease or increase at the same rate.

 Company representatives have researched Decatur County sales information, cost data, and field inspected all property during the course of the contract.  All values were established according to assessment appraisal guidelines and the Code of Iowa.

 Property owners will have an opportunity to meet with a representative of Vanguard Appraisals, Inc. if they feel for some reason the value does not represent fair market value. Property record details can be found at decatur.iowaassessors.com. 

 Property owners who feel the value indicated is not fair market value should be prepared to state their estimate of market value and present evidence to support that estimate, such as sales of like property, costs, remodeling, recent appraisals, etc. Company representative will not adjust the assessed values if the property owner objects to the new values based solely on the fact that there was an increase in assessed value. Property owners who wish to meet with a representative of Vanguard must request an appointment by calling the county assessor’s office at 641-446-4314 between 8:00 to 4:30 and between Feb. 21st and March 1st.

 Informal hearings will be March 6th through 9th. New notices will be mailed if values change prior to April 1.

 Property owners will also have an opportunity to protest the new assessed values to the Board of Review.  A written protest must be submitted between April 2nd and April 30th for the Board of Review to consider any adjustment.

 Please note all residential building and dwelling values will be listed in the dwelling column only and if you have other property that is classed Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, or Residential+3, these assessment notices will be mailed out by April 1st, if the values have changed for the 2023 assessment.

Original source can be found here.