Jones Co. Assessor’s Office explains ’25 assessment notices

     Jones County property owners have received their 2025 assessment notices in the mail. The assessment contained in the notice is the gross assessment and includes qualifying exemptions and abatements computed by the Jones County Assessor’s Office. It does not include the state designated rollbacks, homestead credits or exemptions, military exemptions, or family farm credits.

   Agricultural Buildings and Land: Assessments are determined by a statewide productivity formula, not market value. The Iowa Department of Revenue sets the productivity per acre calculation and agricultural building factor for each individual county in Iowa.

   Residential and Commercial Properties: Assessments reflect what current sales data in your area have indicated is the most likely market value for your property. Every odd numbered year is an equalization year, where property assessments must be adjusted according to the market, based on real estate transactions within the county. The Iowa Department of Revenue compares the county’s assessed values to the sale prices of normal sales, then determines a median sales ratio for each county or city. If the median sales ratio is not between 95 to 105 percent, adjustments must be made to property values. This is why property owners may see an increase even when no physical improvements have been made recently.

   It is a common misconception that the assessor calculates, determines, or collects taxes. The assessor solely focuses on property valuation. It is important to have fair and equitable assessments as the assessments serve to allocate the tax burden among properties by utilizing market data. The assessed value is only one piece of calculating property taxes. In the current property tax system, the taxable value is calculated after the assessment limitation (rollback rate) is applied. As assessed values go up across the state, the assessment limitation decreases to limit the taxable value increases statewide. Therefore, an increase in assessed value does not equate to the same percentage of increase in property taxes payable.

   While understandably a concern for property owners, taxes are simply not part of the discussion when an assessor sets your value, as Iowa property taxes are driven by the budgets of the local taxing bodies.

   If you feel your property is assessed over market value, you can contact The Jones County Assessor’s Office for an informal review by Friday, April 25, or file a protest with the local Board of Review by Wednesday, April 30. They will meet in May to review assessment appeals. If you are still not satisfied with the Board of Review decision, you can appeal further to the Property Assessment Appeal Board at the state level or to the district court.

   The Assessor’s Office encourages you to use their website to research recent sale prices in your area using the comparable sales search and using sales listed as normal at www.beacon.schneidercorp.com.

   Their office can be reached at 319-462-2671 or assessor@jonescountyiowa.gov. They are here to answer any questions you may have regarding your new 2025 assessment.