HomeMy WebLinkAbout[08d] Stearns County Assessor Agreement
Council Agenda Item 8d
MEETING DATE: November 6, 2017
AGENDA ITEM: Stearns County Assessor Agreement
SUBMITTED BY: Administration
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: Starting in 2010, the City opted to transfer the
responsibilities of the Board of Appeal and Equalization to Stearns County.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City of St. Joseph has entered into an agreement with
Stearns County whereby the Council Assessors Office fulfils the responsibility of the Board of
Equalization and Appeals. This Board meets once a year, typically in April or May and property
owners have the opportunity to dispute the assigned market value. The County hosts an open
book meeting in St. Joseph and residents receive notice of the opportunity. If they do not like the
resolution at the open book meeting they can appeal to the County Board of Appeals and
Equalization. The County Board is comprised of experts in the field of real estate and are
appointed by the Board. If the City were to assume the role, Council members would have to go
through training and any changes that are recommended must be approved by the County as
well. Therefore, it seemed logical to transfer the role to Stearns County
BUDGET IMPACT:
ATTACHMENTS: Stearns County Assessor Information
REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: Transfer the responsibility of the Board of Appeals and
Equalization to Stearns County indefinitely.
C O U N T Y O F S T E A R N S
ASSESSOR’S OFFICE
Administration Center RM 37 705 Courthouse Square St. Cloud, MN 56303
320/656-3680 Fax: 320/229-7032
www.co.stearns.mn.us
MEMORANDUM
To: Judy Weyrens, St. Joseph City Clerk
From: Jeff Johnson, County Assessor
Re: Local Board of Appeal and Equalization Transfer Agreement
Date: November 3, 2017
Our records indicate the agreement transferring your city’s local board of appeal and equalization duties and
powers to the county has expired. You have the option to perform the function of a local board of appeal and
equalization next year or renew the transfer agreement with the county.
If you choose to hold a local board of appeal and equalization meeting, you must have a trained board member
in the appeals process, and a resolution requesting the reinstatement of duties and powers must be submitted
to the county assessor by February 1, 2018. Failure to satisfy this training requirement will result in the loss of
the duties and powers of the local board of appeal and equalization, and they will be transferred to the county
for a minimum of two years. Local board of appeal and equalization training is only available online. It can be
accessed 24/7 on the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s (MnDOR) website and takes about 45 minutes to
complete. Upon completion, a proof of training certificate will be generated and available for the board
member to print. The trained board member’s name will also be posted on a register available for county
assessors and local government officials to view.
Should your city exercise the option to renew the transfer agreement with the county, we will continue to make
available to all property owners a procedure for a review of their assessments, including but not limited to, an
open book meeting as was provided in previous years. We will make any necessary changes during the
alternative review option time but will not make changes after the county board of appeal and equalization has
adjourned, except for administrative and clerical errors (same as the current law). This alternative review
process will still take place in April or May of each year, similar to the time scheduled for local board of appeal
and equalization meetings. Notices of Valuation and Classification will continue to be sent to property owners
at least ten days before the open book meeting. The date, time, and place for this review will be listed on the
notice.
Please complete the attached form if you choose to continue with the open book meeting for your city and
th
return to me by December 15. Specify that this agreement will be permanent, for a period of three years, or
for a specified length of time greater than three years. If your decision is to perform the function of a local
board of appeal and equalization, you should contact me for further instruction and guidance about training for
your city councilors and/or mayor that is available over the next two months.
Thank you for giving this matter your attention. Feel free to contact me should you have any questions or
concerns.
"Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer"
LOCAL BOARD OF A PPEAL AND EQUALIZATION
TRANSFER AGREEMENT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the City of St. Joseph in Stearns County, Minnesota, has
opted to transfer its duties and powers to Stearns County and no longer chooses to perform the
function of a Local Board of Appeal and Equalization. This agreement to transfer said duties
and powers is effective for the 2018 assessment year and shall be _______________________
_______________________________________ {Insert: considered permanent; for a minimum
of three(3) years; or for a period of (specify length of time greater than three (3) years) years}.
As a condition of this transfer, Stearns County shall make available to property owners within St.
Joseph City a procedure for review of their assessments, including but not limited to, an open
book meeting. The County Assessor will notify property owners of the date, location, and time for this
review through a Notice of Valuation and Classification. The County Assessor will be allowed to
make changes during the alternative review option time until the adjournment of the County
Board of Appeal and Equalization.
The City of St. Joseph may renew its option to transfer if this agreement is not permanent.
Given under my hand this __________ day of ____________________, year of __________.
City of St. Joseph
Mayor/Councilors, signatures and titles below:
___________________________________________ _______________________________
___________________________________________ _______________________________
___________________________________________ _______________________________
___________________________________________ _______________________________
___________________________________________ _______________________________