Washington County Assessor Christy Tinnes explains CSR2 at Tuesday’s Washington County Board of Supervisors meeting. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

This year, some landowners in Washington County saw their rural property tax rates double. At Tuesday’s Washington County Board of Supervisors meeting, Christy Tinnes, Washington County Assessor, explained through a statewide administrative rule the process for rating land changed. Before, assessors were supposed to use CSR, or the corn suitability rating, to establish rates. However, in Washington County for the last 30 years adjustments had been applied for properties, often found in the southern part of the county near the Skunk River.

Now, every county must use CSR2 formula to establish figures. Tinnes said it was an effort to make it fair across the state because some assessors had been giving adjustments while others hadn’t.

Supervisor Jack Seward said the assessor has to use CSR2 but encourages residents to contact legislators, including the governor. Tinnes added non-crop land can still get an adjustment. Non-crop land can include forest land, dedicated ponds, land under permanent easement, permanent pasture, non-crossable water ways, or building sites.