Committee Minutes

MINUTES
CITY OF GRAND FORKS - BOARD OF EQUALIZATION
April 8, 1997

The city council of the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota was called to meet as the Board of Equalization in the city council chambers on Tuesday, April 8, 1997 at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Owens presiding. Present at roll call were Council Members Beach, Polovitz, Hamerlik, Carpenter, Sande, Klave, Bakken, Hagness - 8; absent: Council Members Ellingson, Hanson, Glassheim, Babinchak, Hafner - 5.

Mel Carsen, city assessor, reported that generally the Board of Equalization, which is made up of the city council, considers the assessments for the current year, 1997, but that they had asked for and received extension of the Board of Equalization to May 5, that notices of increase have not been sent out and they will include the May 5 date. He reported that State law requires that they meet tonight.

COUNCIL MEMBER BEYER REPORTED PRESENT

Council Member Hagness asked what overall percentage of increase is; Mr. Carsen reported he is estimating a 4% increase over last year's number, from $67,300,000 of value to $70,000,000. Mr. Carsen reported they study all sales - that 1996 values based on 1995 sales, so 1996 equalized to 97% of that target; that they looked at 1996 sales to set 1997 values, and equalize using all of 1996 sales; that their actual statistics show that they should have gone up little more than they did. It was noted that the 4% includes new property as well as increased assessments.

Council Member Hamerlik asked what percentage of houses assessing re-evaluated in the 4% and how was that broken out. Mr. Carsen reported that of the 11,000 homes, they increased about 9,000 anywhere from 2% to 9%, with the higher percentages on lower priced houses, hits lower income people little harder, some reappraisals and new construction, annexation, etc. He reported they were on an 8-year turn-around on appraisals but the last two years fallen below that, but will get on 10-year turn-around once get property in data base and would then be able to generate new value by cost appraisal every year if wanted to.

RECESS

It was moved by Council Member Hamerlik and seconded by Council Member Polovitz that the Board of Equalization recess to and reconvene May 5, 1997 at 7:00 p.m. Carried 9 votes affirmative.

Respectfully submitted,



John M. Schmisek, City Auditor