If you disagree with the Assessor's estimate of value, please consider these two questions:

1. What is the actual market value of my property?
2. How does the value compare to similar properties in the neighborhood?

If you have any questions about the assessment of your property, please contact the Assessor's Office.

Owners who are dissatisfied with the assessed value may file a written appeal annually between April 16 and May 5 to the Board of Review. The Franklin County Board of Review is a 5-member citizen board appointed by the Conference Board composed of individuals from various areas of the county who are familiar with the local real estate market; construction materials, techniques, and cost; or have an agricultural background. The policy of the Franklin County Board of Review is to conduct an on-site inspection of all properties for which a property owner has filed a petition. The Board operates independently of the Assessor's Office and has the power to confirm, adjust upward, or adjust downward, any assessment. A property owner may petition the assessment, not property taxes.

In the event an assessment is increased by way of an "Equalization Order" from the Iowa Department of Revenue, property owners are also able to petition the increase in value. If an equalization is ordered the property owner may file a written appeal between October 16 and October 25. Equalization orders only occur in odd numbered years and are published in the Hampton Chronicle and Sheffield Press on or before October 15th. Petition forms are available at the Assessor's Office.

In odd numbered years, the Iowa Department of Revenue compares the Assessor's complete assessment roll, called an abstract, to a sales ratio study of properties sold within that county over the past year. All arms-length transactions are considered for this sales ratio study. If the assessment (by property class) is 5% or more above or below the sales ratio study's median value, the Department of Revenue will decrease or increase assessments to compensate for the difference. Equalization occurs on an entire class of property, not on an individual property. Residential and commercial classes of property are subject to an equalization  orders, agricultural and industrial classes are not. Equalization occurs on an assessing jurisdiction basis, not on a statewide basis.