The Webster County Assessor’s Office has announced that the door-to-door inspections of all commercial, industrial, and multi-residential properties in Wester County will begin approximately Oct. 14.

A reappraisal project was approved by the Conference Board in February 2016.

The purpose of the reappraisal program is to equalize property assessments so that each taxpayer is responsible for paying only his/her fair share of the property tax burden.

Periodic inspections and reappraisal of properties is necessary as all types of properties do not increase or decrease in value at the same rate. Some properties physically deteriorate faster than others, and in many instances similar buildings located in different areas of the county will differ greatly in value due to economic factors.

Data collectors with photo ID signed by the assessor will make interior and exterior inspections of all commercial, industrial and multi-residential 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. A complete sales analysis, local construction costs, and economic conditions are also considered. 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.

The preliminary data collection process will begin in October. The project is scheduled for completion December 31, 2020.

Notice of final value estimates will be mailed to each property owner after January 1, 2021. The property owners will have an opportunity to meet informally to discuss their revaluation in the spring of 2021.

The new assessed values will be effective for January 1, 2021 for taxes payable in fiscal 2022-2023.

Representatives of Vanguard Appraisals, Inc. in conjunction with the Webster County assessor’s office will be conducting this project.

All law enforcement agencies as well as the Webster 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.

If any property owner has questions regarding the reappraisal project, they are urged to contact the Webster County Assessor’s Office at 515-576-4721 or email: assessor@webstercountyia.org