FAQ - Property Assessment Questions

It is a unique number assigned to each piece of real estate.  The PIN, also known as Parcel Number or Parcel Identification Number, is printed on the Property Tax Statement, the Valuation Notice, Proposed Tax Statement, and various other documents related to real estate taxation or assessment.

The first two numbers indicate the jurisdiction (city or township) your property is located in.  Following is the key:

03 - Alexandria Township
06 - Belle River Township
09 - Brandon Township
12 - Carlos Township
15 - Evansville Township
18 - Holmes City Township
21 - Hudson Township
24 - Ida Township
27 - LaGrand Township
30 - Lake Mary Township
33 - Leaf Valley Township
36 - Lund Township
39 - Millerville Township
42 - Miltona Township
45 - Moe Township
48 - Orange Township
51 - Osakis Township
54 - Solem Township
57 - Spruce Hill Township
60 - Urness Township

63 - Alexandria City
66 - Brandon City
69 - Carlos City
72 - Evansville City
75 - Forada City
78 - Garfield City
81 - Kensington City
84 - Millerville City
87 - Miltona City
90 - Nelson City
93 - Osakis City

The assessor who estimates the value and classifies your property should be your first contact if you have questions or want more information.  If you are not sure who your assessor is, you can contact us by using the Contact information in the right column of this page.  Your assessor can review your parcel records with you, review local sales activity, and general market trends.

It is the most probable price, as of a specified date, in cash, or in terms equivalent to cash, or in other precisely revealed terms, for which the specified property rights should sell after a reasonable exposure in a competitive market under all conditions requisite to fair sale, with the buyer and seller each acting prudently, knowledgeably, and for all self-interest, and assuming that neither is under undue duress.  In summary, market value is the price that would tend to prevail under typical, normal, competitive open market conditions.

Yes, however depending on the extent of the damage and when it is repaired, you may or may not see a value/tax change.  (Remember, the assessment is based "as of January 2" of each year.)

The Assessor's Office is located on the second floor of the Douglas County Courthouse at 305 8th Ave West, Alexandria, MN  56308 or call 320-762-3884 or e-mail assessors.office@co.douglas.mn.us

In Minnesota, property taxes provide most of the funding for local government services.  Each property's share of the property tax burden is determined according to its VALUE and USE.  The Assessor's Office collects, tabulates and updates property data annually for further county calculations.  The dollar amount required to cover operating expenses of local governments is levied by each township, city, school district or county to pay for services required by local citizens.  This translates into an annual property tax bill due and payable for each individual property.

Please use the Taxpayer Address Change Request Form listed HERE. You can submit this information to Douglas County by using the Submit by E-mail button on the form or you can print the document and mail it to the Auditor-Treasurer's Office at 821 Cedar St, Alexandria MN 56308.

go to www.douglascountymn.gov and click on Parcel Info Lookup.

Good maintenance will help retain the market value of your property.  Generally, your Estimated Market Value will not be increased for individual minor repairs such as those that follow.  However, a combination of several of these items could result in an increase in your Estimated Market Value.

• Repairing a roof
• Repairing porches or steps
• Repairing original siding
• Painting/decorating
• Replacing plumbing or electrical fixtures

It is your right to decline an interior inspection.  The assessor will then make reasonable estimations regarding the property's interior finish and quality.  If you disagree with the resulting valuation the local board of review is not allowed to make any changes in your favor until you allow the assessor to inspect the properly.

You are encouraged to first contact your Assessor's Office and discuss the assessment with the appraiser for your property.  You have the right to appeal the estimated market value.  The methods of appeal are detailed on the back page of your estimated market valuation notice also known as your Valuation and Classification notice that is mailed to all property owners around March.  The times to appeal are limited generally to the "Boards of Appeal" in April.

Property values are based on the typical sales prices which fluctuate with general market conditions such as the general economy, property locations, supply and demand, demographic changes, and changes in tax laws.  Per Minnesota state laws, as property values change in the market place, those changes must be reflected in the assessor's Estimated Market Values.

Property owners may contact a surveyor by checking the local phone listings.  Once a property is surveyed, it is strongly encouraged that the property owner provide a copy of the survey to the Assessor's office.  A survey provides the best possible method to ensure an accurate assessment of your property.  The county maintains a GIS map that is generally very accurate but it is not a survey.

Assessors estimate property market value and classify them according to their use for property tax purposes.  Each year the assessor reviews the market valuation of your property to determine if changes in the real estate market require a change in the estimated market value.  Minnesota law requires that assessors actually view each parcel of real estate every five years to appraise its market value.  In addition, each year the appraiser inspects parcels with new construction, alterations or improvements.

Regular office hours at the courthouse are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

No, it does not.  There are differences between individual properties and between neighborhoods.  In one area the sales may indicate a large increase in value in a given year.  In another neighborhood there may be very little or no change in value.  Different types of property within the same neighborhood may show different value changes.  There are numerous factors to be considered in each property, which will cause value changes to differ.  Some of the factors that can affect value are location, condition, size, quality of construction, the number of baths, basement finish, garages, and many others.

There are a number of items that affect your property taxes.  The following are those that traditionally have had the largest impacts:

• Changes to the tax levy (amount of money requested by taxing jurisdictions for operations) made by the city, county, school district or special taxing districts.
• Changes to the market value estimate of your property.
• Changes in the market values for the area or a particular type of property.
• Legislative changes to the property classification rates, state aid formulas and other tax laws.
• Legislative unfunded mandates (usually seen as an increase in local government tax levy).
• New taxes approved by referendum.

Taxing jurisdictions such as the county, schools, cities, and townships, adopt their levy after public hearings.  The levies are certified to the County Auditor who then calculates the tax rates.  The taxes you pay are proportionate to your estimated market value and use classification on your property as observed by the Assessor's Office.

State statute requires the assessor to physically review 20% of all property each year.  This results in the assessor visiting your neighborhood every five years.  The assessor is verifying that the currently existing information is accurate, and checking for any changes that may have been made to the property.  Having accurate property information is critical when valuing and classifying property and contributes to a fair and equitable assessment for everybody.

Generally speaking, improvements that increase the market value of a property will increase the assessor's Estimated Market Value.

Go to www.douglascountymn.gov and click on Parcel Info Lookup or call the Auditor/Treasurer's Office for a copy of your tax statement (320-762-3077) or call the Assessor's Office for a copy of your value notice (320-762-3884).

The assessor visits your property to record the existence and character of improvements that contribute to its market value.  The assessor collects sales information on all types of property, and studies characteristics such as location, size of the parcel, improvements and amenities that affect what buyers would pay for your property.  Local sales will impact local values.  The assessor uses actual sales of similar properties to estimate what buyers would pay for your property.  (A single sale does not make a market.)

To qualify for the homestead classification, you must:

• occupy the property as your primary residence
• be one of the owners of the property or a relative
• be a Minnesota resident - items that must reflect the address of the homestead are voter registration, driver's licenses, income tax forms, and vehicle registration.

Douglas County does not verify ownership of properties.  We will verify who we have as the most current taxpayer.

Yes.  The assessor keeps records on the physical characteristics of each property in the County.  Even though the assessor may have been unable to go through your property, the Estimated Market Value will still be reviewed annually based on the existing records and/or sales of similar property.