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Board of Appeal and Equalization Handbook Oftentimes, the assessor will continue to review properties within 10 days of the local board meeting. However, if the assessor makes a change, that change should be brought to the local board for action. If the property owner agrees with the change, he/she does not need to personally appeal to the board. Instead, the assessor should present such changes to be voted on by the board. What the board can do Reduce the value of a property. The board may reduce the value of a property if the facts show that the property is assessed at a value that is higher than its market value. All property is to be valued at its market value. It is assumed that the assessor has properly valued the property. The burden of proof rests with the property owner who must present factual evidence to disprove the assessor’s value. Increase the value of a property. The board may increasethevalueofapropertyifthefactsshowthatthe property is assessed at a value that is lower than its market value. The board must also base the decision to increase the market value on facts. All property is to be valuedatitsmarket value.Itisassumedthattheassessor has properly valued the property. The board must rely on factual evidence to disprove the assessor’svalue. Before the board raises the market value of a property, it must notify the owner. The law does not prescribe any particular form of notice, except that the person whose property is to be increased in assessment must be notified of the intent of the board to make the increase. The owner must be notified either in writing or orally. He/she should be given a time to appear before the board. After the hearing, the board should make any corrections that it deems just. Add improvements to the assessment list. In reviewing the individual assessments, the board may find instances where property is not listed at its market value because the value of a building or other improvement was not included when the market value of the property was estimated. These should be carefully reviewed by the board and placed on a tentative list of property values to be increased. The board should then determine to what extent the valuation of such property should be increased. Before the board adds value for new or overlooked improvements, it must notify the owner. Change the classification of a property. In Minnesota, property is classified according to its use on the assessment date (January 2 of each year). If the property is not currently being used, it is classified according to its most probable, highest and best use. Property owners do not get to choose how they want theirpropertytobeclassified.Itistheassessor’sjob to classify it according to its current use or its most probable, highest and best use. The board can change the classification of any property which in the board’s opinion is not properly classified. Again, it is assumed that the assessor has classified the property correctly. The classification must be based on use, and in order fortheboardto changetheclassification,theappellant must present evidence that the property is used in a manner consistent with the classification. Local Boards Only: Add properties to the assessment list. If the board finds that any real or personal property has not been entered onto the assessment list, the board shallplaceitontheassessmentlistalongwithitsmarket value, and correct the assessment so that each tract and lot of real property and all personal property is entered on the assessment list at its market value. County Boards Only: Order percentage increases or decreases for an entire class of property (blanket changes). The county board can order a percentage increase or decrease to an entire class of property if it feels that the original assessment is incorrect. These increases or decreases can be on land alone, buildings alone, or land and buildings together. The county board does not need to notify the property owners affected by blanket changes. Additionally,thecountyboardhastheauthoritytomake changes to market values or classifications established by local boards as it deems appropriate. The County Assessor typically brings these changes to the county board’sattention. 17