County Assessor Reappraisals

In early 2021, the Fayette County Assessor requested that a reappraisal be done on commercial and industrial property. The conference board which oversees the assessors' office agreed that a reappraisal was needed and authorized the office to contract with an outside company. An outside firm is needed because the current staff do not have the resources to complete a project of this size. Contracting the work was preferable to hiring more staff. Vanguard Appraisals was selected to perform the reappraisal due to their home office in Iowa and experience doing this kind of work. Please keep in mind that the purpose of a reappraisal is not to increase the assessed value, it is to establish equitable assessments that represent the market value of each specific
parcel.

Starting next month and continuing through the Fall of 2026 data collectors from Vanguard Appraisals will begin the process of visiting each property to collect both interior and exterior information which will be used to help estimate the market value. Information to be collected includes type of construction, type of interior finish, physical condition of the property, age of structures and exterior measurements. Each Vanguard employee will  have a photo ID signed by the county assessor identifying them as such. All law enforcement agencies will be made aware of their activities and will be given the names and auto license numbers of people working in Fayette County. Because they are only collecting information, no estimate of value will be given at the inspection. Completion of this project is expected to be December 31, 2026 and notices of assessed value will be sent in early 2027. Property owners will have an opportunity to meet informally to discuss their revaluation in the Spring of 2027. In addition, protest to the Fayette County Board of Review can be made April 2, 2027 through April 30,2027.

If you have additional questions after reading this, the asessor's office invites you to call their office at 563-422-3397. Or you can email Vicky at vhalstead@co.fayette.ia.us.

Thank you for your cooperation as we enter this reappraisal project.