Waseca County       
                         MINNESOTA  
                         
           307 N STATE ST
  WASECA, MN 56093-2953
       PHONE: (507) 835-0630
          FAX: (507) 835-0633  
        HOURS: 8 am-4:30 pm

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The real property is to be revalued at least once every four years. We have adopted the policy of revaluing at least one-quarter of the county's parcels each year, so that at the end of four years we have revalued all the parcels. We also annually inspect new construction completed during the year.

The Assessor's Office is required by state law to assess all property at its full market value, which is generally very close to the value the property would sell for under normal conditions. We assess the property value as of January 2 for each year, and this value is based on sales which occurred during the preceding year.

After the value has been determined, the assessor must classify the property according to its primary use, such as residential, commercial, agricultural, or one of the many other classifications for which it may qualify. These classifications pay different tax rates, which are set by the State Legislature.

The Assessor's Office must also determine if property qualifies as homestead or not. When we receive record of a sale, our office sends as application for a homestead, which the owner/occupant must complete and return to us. If an owner/occupant moves out of the residence they are required to notify us of the move by state law. We do not send homestead cards to each house annually. If certain close relatives in a house, it may qualify for homestead--please contact our office to check.

The County Assessor's Office is required to send out valuation notices prior to Boards of Review if there has been an increase in market value or change in property's classification or homestead status.

After all property has been valued and classified, we set the dates for the Boards of Review for each township and city in the county. These are generally held in April and May. The purpose for the Boards of Review is to give people an opportunity to appeal their proposed valuation or classification. They must appeal to the local Board of Review first, and then, if not satisfied, they may appeal to the County Board of Equalization. The appeal may be in person or in writing. We strongly recommend anyone with a question or problem concerning their valuation to contact our office prior to the meeting to discuss the situation. Many times, the problem may be solved or explained.

During the year, we must gather all recorded sales and document a Sales Study for each class of property. This study compares actual selling prices to our valuations. This information determines if we must increase or decrease values for the following year. If the sales study indicates that the ratio of our estimated values to the selling prices is below state standards, we have to adjust our values to meet those standards, or the state will make overall adjustments.

These are some of the basic requirements that we are responsible for, in addition to the many reports that are required by the Department of Revenue. To say the least, the system is very complex, and annual changes in property tax legislation continually make it more complicated.

The County Assessor is an appointive position. The County Assessor's Office is located on the lower level of the courthouse.