T
he 2024 Legislative Session's Summer Study group has been examining real estate tax assessment methodologies in South Dakota, yielding six key proposals to boost efficiency and effectiveness while ensuring accuracy and consistency statewide.

    Key Proposals:

    A compliance audit will be conducted periodically at all equalization offices by the Department of Revenue. This audit will utilize metrics collected from counties to guarantee uniformity and fairness in property tax assessments.

    A shared software platform for use by counties is being explored, with a working group assessing costs and benefits. The group includes directors of equalization, county treasurers, auditors, commissioners, and Department of Revenue staff.

    The Department of Revenue and the South Dakota Association of Assessing Officers will develop an educational platform for assessors, featuring training videos and instructional materials on appraisal manuals, software platforms, and standard execution of duties.

    Legislation will clarify that counties can voluntarily cooperate and share data for appraising properties and equalizing assessments.

    An educational platform similar to the one for assessors will be developed for members of boards of equalization, including training videos and other instructional materials.

    A process will be established for requesting certain data from the Department of Revenue, with legislative committees reviewing this data annually to assess the efficacy and fairness of property tax assessments in South Dakota.

    These proposed reforms aim to enhance accuracy and consistency in property tax assessments, ultimately benefiting taxpayers across the state.