Last week it was announced that rural property owners in Adams County are facing 26.4-percent jump in adjustments to their 2011 valuations of real property. They’re not alone, though. In the October 10^th edition of the local newspaper, the Cass County Assessor published a notice there would be a 37-percent increase in valuations for farmland only. Auditor Dale Sunderman says there is a window for persons to file their objections to the adjustment in valuations, with County Board of Review. He says a form available at the Assessor’s Office must be completed and filed with the Board of Review between now, and November 4^th. The final adjustments to 2011 property valuations were ordered by Iowa’s Director of Revenue.

In Mills County, Assessor Christina Govig says an Ag Equalization Order was issued for a 39.4 percent increase on agricultural land, and ag structures are seeing a 29 percent increase. The increases are based on a five-year production formula. She says there will likely be a rollback, but it’s not clear what that will be, therefore the impact on the valuations is uncertain.

Montgomery County is looking at 31.6 percent valuation increase in agricultural land. Other counties facing valuation increases in agricultural land only include, Harrison, Pottawattamie, Shelby, and Union. Adams and Ringgold Counties are facing an increase in the valuation of agricultural land and agricultural structures.