Frequently Asked Questions
Assessor
The assessed value represents the value of the property on January 1 of each year. Each property owner is notified by assessment notice any time there is a change in value to their property. Assessment notices are required by law to be mailed by April 1.
The simple answer is NO. The Assessor raises or lowers property values according to the market value of real estate, or in the case of agricultural land & buildings, according to a 5 year average of productivity. The Assessor does not calculate taxes or know what the taxes will be based on the new valuation. Assessments are set January 1 of each year, while the rollback and tax levy rates on these assessments are not set until the following year. The assessor is not involved in calculating taxes or mailing the tax statements out.
All sales information for Guthrie County is sent to the Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR) every year for Residential, Commercial and Multi-residential sales. Only the useable/normal sales in Guthrie County are used to determine what the market trend is when conducting the sales ratio analysis for Guthrie County. The Department of Revenue lets each assessing jurisdiction know what percentage of increase or decrease is needed to be at 100% market value from the median of all sales during an odd year. It is then up to the Assessor to follow through with that increase or decrease as directed. Research of sales ratio studies, analysis of local conditions, and current construction costs are used in determining assessments for the classes of Residential, Commercial and Multi–residential property. In the case of agricultural land & buildings, the value is determined according to a productivity formula and CSR2’s (Corn Suitability Ratings).
In recent years, many residential property owners may have noticed a change in their property value due to the median of all residential sales not being within tolerance with the IDR. The easiest way to explain this change is because many of the sales were properties that sold for significantly higher prices than the last assessed value. Simply put, these high sale prices in the market are driving up the assessed values across Guthrie County.
Agricultural land & buildings, on the other hand, may have noticed a decrease in value. Ag land & building values are determined by the IDR and are calculated using averages over five-year increments.
If the Assessor does not increase or decrease property values as indicated by the market and directed by the Department of Revenue, then the Department of Revenue will make these changes by issuing an equalization order in an odd year and direct the Auditor to apply the order. Equalization orders are given in lump percentages straight across the board, countywide. That could mean some towns or townships or neighborhoods could increase or decrease at an inequitable rate compared to others.
Property owners who disagree with the assessor’s estimate of market value of their property should ask themselves, “Could I sell this property for that amount today?” If the answer is yes, then the value is probably correct. Every property owner does have the right to appeal an assessment.
There are two ways to appeal:
- The informal assessment review within the assessor’s office is between April 2 and April 25.
- The formal petition period is between April 2 and April 30 and that petition is to be reviewed by the Guthrie County Board of Review. Details regarding the protest periods are on the assessment notice and forms will be available on our website, at our office or the Iowa Department of Revenue website at https://revenue.iowa.gov
You may access your property information by clicking on Query County Parcel Data. From there you can search by deed holder, address or parcel ID number. Please take a minute to verify the data for accuracy in listing. Our assessment info should mirror what a realtor would list your property as, when it would be listed for sale. For example: how many bathrooms, basement finish, deck size, detached garage, etc.
There could be many reasons why your taxes change from year to year. It is possible the valuation changed, or the rollback changed, and/or the levy rate changed. If you have a homestead credit, the amount may vary each year due to a levy rate change. This credit is based on $4850 times your current levy rate in your area. Maybe another exemption or credit amount changed. There are many variables to the tax equation that could make your taxes fluctuate from year to year.
The rollback on your tax statement is the actual taxable value. Taxable value is the value determined by the county auditor after application of a rollback factor to the assessed value. Taxable value is calculated by multiplying the rollback rate for the correct property class by the equalized 100% actual value.
The rollback rate is a statewide rate set annually for each property class by the Iowa Department of Revenue. More than 20 years ago, residential property values were rising quickly. To help cushion the impact of high inflation, the Legislature passed an assessment limitation law called rollback. Increases in assessed values for residential and agricultural property are subject to this assessment limitation formula. If the statewide increase in values of homes and farms exceeds 3 percent due to revaluation, their values are “rolled back” so that the total increase statewide is 3 percent. Rollback is also available for industrial and commercial property when necessary. This does not mean that the assessment on your home will increase by only 3 percent. The rollback is applied on a class of property, not an individual property. This means that the statewide total taxable value can increase by only 3 percent due to revaluation.
There are a number of different taxing districts in a jurisdiction, each with a different levy rate. Each year the county auditor determines for that district, a levy rate that will yield enough money to fund the different entities in that district. The entities include local schools, counties, cities, townships, community colleges, local assessors, and others. Since more than one taxing authority is calculating a tax rate for the property, all the rates are added together, resulting in a single tax levy called a consolidated levy. This consolidated levy is always the result of two or more tax rates established by different government entities. The tax entities on the bottom of your tax statement are the entities asking for your tax dollars.
Schools – inquire with your school board representative, city – inquire with your local city council member, county services – inquire with your supervisor in your district or the auditor, hospital – inquire with a hospital board member, assessor –inquire with the assessor, township trustees – contact your township trustee, local extension office –contact your local office, Rural improvement Zone (RIZ) -contact a board member, and misc. other services. If you want to know more about each of these budgets, attend a public budget hearing or monthly meeting if applicable to that taxing entity.
Auditor
Absentee
No. In Iowa you can only request an absentee ballot for yourself.
Yes. You may request an absentee ballot via email or fax and a ballot will be mailed to you. However, in order for your ballot to be counted you must also mail in or drop off the original paper ballot request.
No. Under Iowa law, power of attorney does not apply for all election related matters.
The only people who may return a ballot for a voter are:
- someone living in the voter’s household
- an immediate family member
- a special precinct election official delivering a ballot for health care residents
- a delivery agent, in the case of a voter unable to return a ballot due to blindness or other disability
Yes! Your absentee ballot cannot be counted unless you have signed the affidavit envelope that you return your ballot in. If we receive a ballot back that has not been signed we will attempt to contact you to get this fixed. Once contacted, you may decide to either:
- Request a replacement ballot and return it by 8:00 p.m. on election day
- Vote at the polls on election day
- Sign the affidavit in person at the county auditor’s office by 8:00 p.m. on election day
Yes. There is a myth that absentee ballots only get counted if the election is close, however, this is not true. Under Iowa law, every ballot must be counted.
You are allowed to hand deliver your ballot to the Auditor’s office up until the time the polls close on Election Day. If you return your ballot through the mail, your ballot must arrive by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, with exceptions for individuals in the Safe at Home program and military/overseas citizens. Learn more on our Absentee Voting page.
Election Day
Yes. If you need assistance filling out your ballot ask a poll worker for help. A team of one republican and one democrat will come over and help you mark your ballot. Also available in each polling location is a ballot marking device that will read you all of the choices and then print out your marked ballot.
Yes. Iowa law allows for Election Day registration if you are able to provide proof of identification (i.e. valid photo ID) and proof of residency (i.e. utility bill with your name on it if your ID has an outdated address on it). If you are unable to provide one or both of these you are allowed to bring someone with you to attest that you have the right to vote.
Yes. If you have not returned your absentee ballot you may go to your polling place on Election Day and vote a regular ballot.
Beginning January 1, 2019, Iowa voters will be required to show a driver’s license, non-driver’s ID, passport, military ID, veterans ID, Tribal ID or Voter ID Card at the polls before they vote. Voters, starting in 2019, without an ID may cast a provisional ballot or have another registered voter attest to their identity.
Yes. While it is recommended that you update your information prior to Election Day to speed things up at the polls, you may wait and do so on Election Day. If you are updating your address just make sure you are going to the polling place for your new address. When updating your address you will now need to provide proof of identity and proof of residency.
Yes. If you are unable to go inside the polling place a team of election workers will be sent out to your car to help you vote.
Yes. When you go to vote, a poll worker will verify with the auditor’s office that your absentee ballot has not been returned. If it is confirmed that the auditor’s office has not received a ballot from you then you will be given a new ballot to vote there.
Starting in January of 2019 you will be required to show identification. If you need to register to vote on Election Day, you must bring proof of identification and proof of residency.
Starting in 2019, if you do not have your ID with you, you may either cast a provisional ballot or have another registered voter attest to your identity. Learn more about provisional ballots and attesting on our Voter ID page.
So long as you are in line to vote at the time the polls close you will be allowed to vote.
If a voter’s eligibility is in question on Election Day they are allowed to cast a provisional ballot. After the voter marks their ballot and returns it to the poll worker, the voter is required to provide the necessary identification or documentation at the polling place before it closes or provide it at the Auditor’s Office by noon on the following Monday. If the canvass will be held earlier than the following Monday, the identification must be provided before the canvass.
If it is determined that you do have the right to vote in the precinct in which you voted, your ballot will then be counted and included in the final vote total.
General Information
Yes. If you make a mistake on an absentee ballot mark your return envelope “Spoiled” and return it to the Auditor’s office either by mail or in person. If you return it by mail contact the Auditor’s office to be sent a new one.
On Election Day if you make a mistake on your ballot, return it to the poll worker to receive a new one. You are allowed up to three ballots so don’t make too many mistakes!
Yes. For each race on the ballot, a line is provided for you to write-in the name of someone for whom you wish to vote for. Make sure you color in the oval!
Yes and No. In Iowa, you must be a member of a political party (currently: Republican and Democratic) to vote in a primary election. However, anyone* can change parties on Election Day and vote. For independents to vote they must declare a political party.
*Precinct election officials may not change political parties within 30 days of an election.
No. You can vote for as much or as little as you would like; it’s all up to you!
No. If you have already returned your absentee ballot to the Auditor’s office you may not request a new ballot if you have changed your mind on who you wish to vote for.
It depends on the election. In primary elections, you can only vote for candidates from the party to which you belong. In general elections, you are free to vote for anyone you like, regardless of their party affiliation.
Registered voters who do not have an Iowa driver’s license or non-operator’s ID were issued a voter ID card. Voter ID cards must be signed before going to the polls. The new voter ID card will contain a PIN number that will be used for voting purposes. If you should have a voter ID card and do not, please contact our office to have one sent to you.
Starting in 2019, voters must provide an ID when going to vote. Voters who do not have ID will be allowed to either cast a provisional ballot or have another registered voter attest to their identification. Learn more about provisional ballots and attesting on our Voter ID page.
There are 6 approved types of identification that may be used:
- an Iowa Driver’s License or Non-Operator ID
- a Voter ID issued by the Secretary of State or the Auditor’s Office
- a current US Passport
- a US Military ID
- a US Veteran’s ID
- a Tribal ID
Where you vote is determined by where you live and you must vote in the precinct to which you are assigned for your ballot to be counted. To find your polling place please visit the Polling Places page on our website.
Registration
No. All updates to voter registration must be made in writing or online through the Iowa DOT if you have an Iowa driver’s license.
Yes. Any eligible voter in Iowa may register to vote. Because many of those who are homeless have a nontraditional address they just need to provide an address or description of where they sleep the most, wherever that may be.
Those with a prior felony conviction are only permitted to vote if their voting rights have been restored by the Governor, including through Executive Order. For more information about restoration of rights, contact the Governor’s office or visit the voter registration page on our website.
No. You would only need to re-register if your information has changed and you need to update it.
If you have moved recently and need to update your address for voting, all you have to do is fill out a new voter registration form and submit it to the Auditor’s office. If you do not update your address after a move through a new voter registration form and do not vote in the next general election, you will be marked inactive (inactive voters may still vote with proper ID). Registration will be canceled if two more general elections pass with no voter activity.
If you notice a mistake on your voter card please contact the Auditor’s Office and/or submit a new registration form to correct your information.
Iowa does not recognize an “independent” party. Instead, “No Party” is used to indicate a lack of affiliation with a political party.
Engineering & Secondary Roads
You may register online to receive notifications of road closures.
Visit our permits page. This will take you to the online application for the permits. Work shall not start on an entrance or modification of an entrance until the permit has been reviewed and approved by the office of the Guthrie County Engineer.
Additionally, there are flags located in the Engineer’s Office. You can use these to stake about where you would like your driveway to be.
- Guthrie County can supply the pipe. They are sold at our cost of purchase.
- No, Guthrie County does not perform any work on entrances that are new or being widened. The landowner/applicant will perform all work with county staff inspecting for proper construction.
Chris Whitaker, Guthrie County Zoning Administrator/Region XII Council of Governments
The County mows and clears brush in order to maintain sight distance, vegetation management, reduce shaded roadways, removal of snow traps, and maintain clear zones. The County will not mow on any personal property; only the right-of-way.
Guthrie County possesses or holds easement in order to maintain roadways for public usage. This amount of right of way varies from road to road. This information is kept on file at the Engineer’s Office. Landowners may not place, or cause to be placed, an obstruction within any county right of way per Iowa Code.
Dust Control
Residents are instructed to contact dust control vendors directly. Questions regarding dust control and the material used should be directed to the vendor. Guthrie County will not guarantee the effectiveness of the dust control, and any complaints regarding the quality of the product should be addressed to the vendor that has been selected. Marking flags for some vendors may be picked up from the County Engineer’s Office.
We try to leave dust control applied areas alone, however, the county reserves the right to blade the road to ensure the safety and integrity of the road.
Snow Removal
County staff monitor weather through a variety of tools including driving the roadways for determining call out needs.
Normal operating hours are Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. These hours may be extended to 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. including weekends and holidays.
However, Guthrie Couty will respond to all “Emergency” situations deemed as such by the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office. If you feel you are in an emergency, please dial 9-1-1.
Guthrie County services paved roads in its primary efforts and unpaved (gravel) secondarily. All applicable parts of the roadway system are plowed in the most efficient and effective way possible. This may mean that snow removal events may start and stop in the same location as previous events.
Restoring access on gravel roads can be a slow process. Motor graders are not built for speed. Our operators have approximately 75 center line miles in each of their routes. Although we try to get everyone out as quickly and safely as possible, in the aftermath of a severe storm, it is possible that graders can’t cover their entire area until the second-or-third day. Homeowners are encouraged to plan accordingly.
In case of an emergency situation, please dial 9-1-1.
Should you find yourself in an emergency, you should dial 91, not the Guthrie County Roads Department. If Fire/EMS need assistance getting to your location, dispatch will reach out to the County Engineer for coordination.
No. Property owners are responsible for maintaining access to mailboxes.
Snow removal operations may result in snow being deposited into private drives. The county is not responsible for clearing out private driveways, and the snow removed from the driveways shall not be placed back onto the roadways or shoulders.