Gage County board hears explanation of countywide valuation adjustments after floodplain remapping

The Gage County Board of Equalization on July 8 heard staff describe a countywide review that will change property valuations for parcels in and near the floodplain, and set property-evaluation protests for 1:00 p.m.

The board, which met at 8:36 a.m., first approved the meeting agenda and the previous meeting’s minutes by 6-0 votes. The Chair then asked Miss Milligan, the county assessor, to explain recent valuation work by "Derek Meador Klein," asking, "Can you explain Derek Meador Klein and his, valuations, they're making a fairly significant adjustment, which was going to affect all the flood plain and fringe... as well as some other homes." The Chair framed the question around how the change will affect property owners.

Milligan told the board that some parcels have already been reviewed while others remain under review and that staff expect adjustments to be processed through the county's notice procedure. Milligan said the work uncovered inconsistencies and that "Danielle is the one that discovered a lot of it wasn't quite consistent across." She described how staff can put a board notice through the county board and said affected owners "have 30 days from that notice to say if, you know, they're not happy with it."

Board members and staff said the inconsistencies were initially identified during property protests and that the assessment team can now apply corrections more broadly across the county rather than only on individually protested parcels. Milligan cautioned that valuation changes will vary by parcel depending on flood-trend designations and whether dirt or fill has altered buildable conditions; she said many values will "most likely" go down but that results will depend on parcel-specific factors.

Milligan also noted mapping work involves GW Works and county mapping staff, and that the assessor's office will return to the board with formal notices once the parcels to be adjusted are identified. The board did not vote on valuation changes at the meeting; the discussion focused on process, scope and next steps. Property owners wishing to contest new valuations were reminded that protests are scheduled for 1:00 p.m., and that they will have 30 days after a board notice is posted to respond.

The board recessed planning and zoning business to continue work on property valuations and mapping; staff will follow up with formal board notices as the review proceeds.