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Assessments / Appraisals
Property Assessment Overview
Minnesota state law requires properties to be reviewed at least one time every five years. Reviews typically occur during the summer and fall of each year. It is necessary for the appraiser to view the interior of the property to document the amenities and determine the quality and condition of each property. The review also helps determine the use of the property.
Assessments are completed by four appraisers who are licensed by the State of Minnesota. Additional support is provided by two taxpayer service specialists.
Assessment Process
The two main steps in the assessment process are:
- Valuation of Property - Property is valued as of January 2 of each year. The assessor and appraisers collect information on each property and review sales information on sales occurring in the county to determine the value.
- Classification of Property - Property is also classified each year on January 2. There is a list of possible classifications provided in Minnesota state law. The appraisers and assessor select the appropriate one based on the use of the property.
Find Property Characteristic / Parcel Information
The County’s property characteristics information system is available online. This provides building and land details, sales information, and property reports on all types of properties in Mower County. You can search by address or parcel number.
About Our System
Mower County is set up under a “true county assessor” system which means all property assessments are conducted by the County. The County has a team of licensed appraisers who value, classify, and report all 21,300 parcels of property on an annual basis. That information is used by the County’s experienced taxation team to determine taxes paid by each property.The Process
The assessment process is multi-year and involves many steps, but it is still even just one small part of the entire property tax process. The following very generally summarizes the entire property tax process:This assessment portion of the property tax process can be divided into two areas:
- Assessments – This is when properties are valued and classified based on property characteristics and details and also considers sales information related to local real estate market conditions.
- Taxes – This is the actual amount of taxes paid by properties each year. It is based on local budgeting decisions as well as the property’s value and classification. It may also include special assessments.
The County’s property tax information system is available online. Searchable by address or parcel number, this site provides current and historical tax information, special assessments, and tax breakdowns by jurisdiction.
If you are looking for data or information for all of the county’s parcels or would like to request a special data information request, please view our data request information.
Click here for more information on Property Tax from the Department of Revenue
Questions and Concerns
You may email an appraiser directly by choosing the appropriate property type below: