The Iowa Department of Revenue has issued a six percent equalization order for all residential and ag dwelling properties in Marion County. Marion County Assessor Kelli Kingrey says the department requires that values be as close to 100% market rate as possible. However, a window of 95 to 105 percent is allowed. Kingrey says the county was at 94 percent, causing the order to be issued.

“We fell just below one percent short of that 95 percent. So the Department of Revenue looked at our sales and numbers and said we did not have enough value on our residential and ag dwelling properties based on the market and the sales in the county, so they gave us an equalization order. The department will not raise us up within that 95 percent threshold, they’ll bring us all the way to 100 percent. We were rounded off at one percent too low, so they gave us a six percent equalization order.”

Kingrey filed a written protest with the Department of Revenue to try to prevent the order, but it was denied. Property owners may protest before the Board of Review. Only the equalization order can be protested, and it must be proven to the board why the increase is not warranted for their particular property. Learn more about what this equalization order means for Marion County property owners on today’s Let’s Talk Knoxville.