By Jolene Farley
The Hills City Council conducted its yearly Board of Review meeting in conjunction with the regular council meeting Tuesday. The Board of Review gives taxpayers the opportunity to question assessed tax values in Hills.
Rock County assessors Mark Hovland and Tom Houselog were on hand answer questions from taxpayers and the council.
Only one Hills resident attended the meeting to question an increase in his property taxes.
"We have no choice but to raise or the Department of Revenue will raise for us," said Hovland.
Residential valuations increased 5 percent this year for homes in Hills valued under $90,000. Valuations increased 3 percent on houses over $90,000.
Farmland valuation increased anywhere from 0 to 5 percent, while tillable land valuation increased from 3 to 5 percent. There was very little change in commercial and industrial properties, according to Hovland.
Even with the valuation increases, Hills boasts the lowest tax rate in Rock County, according to Hovland.
Valuation increases in Hills were spurred by the Minnesota Department of Revenue requirement that property valuations stay in the 90 to 105 percent range. Hills' property valuations median ratio was 88.1 percent.
Hovland and Houselog used data from the 12 residential sales in Hills between the dates of Oct. 1, 2000, and Sept. 30, 2001, as the determining factor for the increase.
A broad price range of homes sold between those dates, according to Houselog. Sale prices ranged between a low of $27,000 to a high of more than $90,000.
The school district has the biggest impact on tax increases and decreases, according to Hovland.
"People want services and usually they are willing to pay," said Hovland.
Mayor Jim Jellema said he hopes the low property tax rate can become a selling point for the community.
In other business
The council reviewed the yearly audit report issued by Matt Taubert, a partner in the accounting firm Meulebroeck, Taubert and Company, Pipestone.
The report showed no instances of non-compliance except one finding of a lack of segregation of duties in the accounting function.
This common finding among smaller cities cannot be corrected unless more employees are hired for accounting.
The council discussed some problem areas in town and how to encourage people to clean up their properties.
"Is there anything you can do to make people clean up their own property?" questioned Mayor Jim Jellema.