(Polk County, IA) -- The average assessment for Polk County properties has risen an average of 7.5%. Assessor Randy Ripperger says the increase is largely based on a hot real estate market.
Ripperger says Polk County home sales in 2020 were up 16-percent over 2019. He says sales were driven by low interest rates and a limited number of single family homes on the market. He says new construction represented 20-percent of all homes sold, noting there were 500 new homes sold in Polk County in 2020.
The assessments are done every two years. Letters were sent out this week to property owners.
Those who disagree with the new assessment have two options: Property owners can ask for an informal review with the assessor, from April 2nd to Monday, April 26th. The informal review could lead to an adjustment in value. Property owners can also file a formal protest, to be heard by the Board of Review. Property owners can file a protest between April 2nd thru April 30th. Forms can be found on the county's website. The Board of Review will convene in May to review applications. Ripperger says that process could continue into June as well. He says there are typically between 7,000 and 9,000 protests.
The Assessors office remains closed due to the pandemic. Business must be done by phone, mail, email, or fax. Ripperger says plans are being made for scheduled, in-person protests of assessments. He says those will be held in the Polk County Board of Supervisors meeting room with a number of COVID precautions.
(Photo Getty Images)