County Assessor

Mitchell County Assessor: Amy Folkerts 
(641) 832-3945 ext. 113
EMAIL

Staff:
Darin Voaklander (641) 832-3945 Ext. 112
EMAIL
Rhonda Weber (641) 832-3945 Ext. 110
EMAIL

COMMERCIAL / INDUSTRIAL REAPPRAISAL PROJECT PRESS RELEASE

Mitchell County Assessor, Amy Folkerts, is announcing that the door-to-door inspections of all commercial, multi-residential, and industrial properties in Mitchell County will begin approximately March 3rd.

A reappraisal project was approved by the Conference Board in February of 2020. Representatives of Vanguard Appraisals, Inc., in conjunction with the Mitchell County Assessor’s Office, will be conducting this project. The last time a county-wide reappraisal project was done for commercial, multi-residential, and industrial properties was in 2010.

Please keep in mind that the purpose of the reappraisal project is not to increase assessed values, it is to establish equitable assessments. Periodic inspections and revaluation of properties are necessary as all types of properties do not increase or decrease in value at the same rate.

Data collectors from Vanguard Appraisals, with photo ID signed by the assessor, will make interior and exterior inspections of all commercial and industrial properties. They will be compiling information to be used to estimate the fair market value of each property. Information to be collected includes type of construction, type of interior finish, physical condition of the property, age of structures and exterior measurements. No estimate of value will be given at the time of inspection.

Property owners are asked to cooperate by allowing a complete inspection of their property and providing accurate information so that a fair and equitable assessment may be determined for each property.

All law enforcement agencies as well as the Mitchell County Assessor’s Office will be apprised of the areas where data collectors are working. They will also have a listing of all names and license plate numbers of anyone involved in the project.

The preliminary data collection process will begin in March. The project is scheduled for completion on December 31, 2025.

The new assessed values will be effective for January 1, 2026 for taxes payable in fiscal 2027-2028. Notice of final value estimates will be mailed to each property owner after January 1, 2026. The property owners will have an opportunity to meet informally to discuss their revaluation in the spring of 2026.

If any property owner has questions regarding the reappraisal project, they are urged to contact the Mitchell County Assessor’s Office at 641-832-3945 or email: afolkerts@mitchellcoia.us

Vanguard Appraisers and Vehicle Information

Duties of the Assessor
The assessor is charged with several administrative and statutory duties; however, the primary duty and responsibility is to cause to be assessed all real property within his/her jurisdiction except that which is otherwise provided by law. This would include residential, multi-residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural classes of property. Real property is revalued every two years. The effective date of the assessment is January 1st of the current year. The assessor determines a full or partial value of the new construction, or improvements depending upon the state of completion as of January 1st.

GENERAL MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE ASSESSOR’S DUTIES
The Assessor DOES NOT:
Collect taxes
Calculate taxes
Determine tax rate
Set policy for the Board of Review

The Assessor is concerned with value, not taxes. Taxing jurisdictions such as schools, cities and county, adopt budgets after public hearings. This determines the tax levy, which is the rate of taxation required to raise the money budgeted.
The taxes you pay are proportional to the value of your property compared to the total value of property in your taxing district.

For frequently asked questions, please visit the
ISAA – Official Site (municipalone.com).

IDR Announces: Homestead Tax Exemption for Claimants 65 Years of Age or Older

On May 4, 2023, Governor Reynolds signed House File 718, establishing a homestead tax exemption for claimants 65 years of age or older.

In addition to the homestead tax credit, eligible claimants who own the home they live in and are 65 years of age or older on or before January 1 of the assessment year are now eligible for a homestead tax exemption. For the assessment year beginning on January 1, 2023, the exemption is for $3,250 of taxable value. For assessment years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, the exemption is for $6,500 of taxable value. An exemption is a reduction in the taxable value of the property rather than a direct reduction in the amount of property tax you pay.

The Iowa Department of Revenue has amended the Homestead Tax Credit and Exemption (54-028) to allow claimants to apply for the new exemption. Applications are due July 1 to your local assessor. If the exemption is granted, the exemption will be allowed for future years without future filing as long as the claimant continues to qualify.