Ward County
Property Tax Guide

Assessment administration: Revaluation cycle: Every year. Director is Mixed. Assessments are made by city and township assessors in their respective districts and by the district assessor in an unorganized territory.

Classification and ratios: Class 1 9.0%; Class 2 10.0%; Class 3 10.0%; Class 4 10.0%

Tax limits: For general purposes, counties may levy up to 60 mills, cities may levy up to 105 mills, and townships may levy up to 18 mills. School districts may levy a tax to generate the same revenue as the prior year plus 12% for the school district's general fund up to 70 mills (See Levy Limit). School districts may also levy up to 12 mills for miscellaneous purposes and expenses, 3 mills for the school district's special reserve fund, and 5 mills for developing a school safety plan. If applicable, school districts may levy no more mills than necessary for approved tuition or tutoring payments.

Agricultural treatment: Agricultural land values are based on the land’s agricultural value, known as the capitalized average annual gross return. The capitalized average annual gross return is determined from the production ( acres yield X price), input costs, and interest rates. The calculation results in an average agricultural value per acre of cropland, non-cropland, and inundated agricultural land for each county. Gross return for sugar beets and potatoes equals 20% of gross income, 30% for all other croplands, and 25% for land used for grazing animals. Inundated agricultural property is reduced by 50% before applying the 20% or 30%. The gross revenue for cropland in each county is based on acreage, yield, and price for each crop over the prior 10 years with the high and low years dropped. Production costs (cost of production index and the capitalization rate) are included in determining the value. Agr...

Personal property treatment: Personal property taxed: No, but see explanation. Inventory taxed: No. Machinery and equipment taxed: No, but see footnote

Transfer charges:

Legal definition: Real property, for the purpose of taxation, includes: 1. The land itself, whether laid out in town lots or otherwise, and improvements to the land, such as ditching, surfacing, and leveling, except plowing and trees, and all rights and privileges thereto belonging or in anywise appertaining, and all mines, minerals, and quarries in and under the same and shall expressly include all such improvements made by persons to lands held by them under the laws of the United States, all such improvemen...