Assessor reports full compliance and expanded covenant canvass; flags AI‑driven appeal pressure

County Assessor Pat Chapman told the Budget Committee his office achieved full compliance with Department of Revenue residential and commercial assessment standards in 2026 while valuing approximately 165,000 parcels. He highlighted a targeted civic initiative: a countywide canvass to inform homeowners about restrictive racial covenants and assist with discharge. "In 2025, our office completed its first countywide canvassing effort. We visited 13 19 properties," Chapman said, and reported covenant discharges rose from 380 in 2024 to 685 in 2025.

Chapman also raised a new operational concern: commercial services that use AI‑driven models to file appeals on homeowners' behalf. He said such firms often submit large volumes of automated appeals without on‑site inspection, increasing workload and the risk of overwhelming staff, and that his office and the Minnesota Association of Assessing Officers are discussing legislative options and procedural protections. Commissioners discussed outreach to increase awareness of free county appeal options and the timing of the open‑book appeal season.