OTTUMWA — Residents in Wapello County will see a drastic increase in agricultural land values. However, they will also see a drastic rollback in the increase, causing ag land values to only increase by about 4 percent.

The Iowa Department of Revenue ordered a 58 percent increase in all agricultural land and buildings; a 6 percent increase in all residential properties and farm dwellings; and a 6 percent increase in commercial properties in Wapello County, said Jon Brinegar, Wapello County assessor. The order was issued at the beginning of October.

The county auditor issued a noticed to the public that was published in the Courier on Oct. 7.

Every two years, the department of revenue analyzes each county’s five-year average of production and price of crops and uses that to determine the increase or decrease of value, Brinegar said.

“That means an increase of 58 percent, then roll it back 34 percent before they figure tax on it,” he said.

Wapello County Supervisor Jerry Parker said he received a lot of calls from concerned farmers Monday and noticed people lining up outside the assessors office.

However, Parker said, it isn’t as bad as it sounds.

For example, he said if a property owner’s farmland is worth $100,000, the state is now said to equalize that 58 percent, so it goes up to a new value of $158,000. Then, it gets rolled back to 66 percent of the value, taking it down to $104,000. That ends up only being a 4 percent increase.

“It can’t be any greater than 4 percent,” Parker said.

Residents had until Tuesday to file a petition to the county board of review. The board will decide whether those individual properties should increase by the amount ordered by the department of revenue or a lesser amount.

In 2005, ag values went up 33 percent and in 2003 they were reduced by 21 percent, Brinegar said. The changes will show up on tax statements next September.

Pat Shaver can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or by e-mail at p.shaver@ottumwacourier.com.