The deadline for the ag soil adjustment application is almost here. Forms must be filed before September 1st, 2021 for the assessment notice you will receive in March 2022.

Do I need an application?  All Fall River Ag landowners were sent forms early this summer. One of the papers in that mailing was a list of your parcels with the crop, grass, and adjusted acres listed. If you see any acres listed under ‘adjusted’ then we have previously adjusted soils for you.  In order to keep those adjustments you must file the State’s new application.

How much money will this save me?  It varies from soil type to soil type.  Generally the savings is $1-$3 in taxes per acre adjusted.  So if you only have 3-5 acres it may not be worth your time to apply.  If you have 100 acres that would be $100-$300 in taxes.

You can file the form online.  Or call the DOE office for assistance at 605-745-5136 before August 31st.

Whereas, the Fall River County Board of Commissioners have designated August 5^th through August 12^th, 2021, as a week to honor Eric Shull, former Highway Department employee, who passed away on July 25^th, 2021.  The Commission requests that in his honor, the American flag at the courthouse be lowered to half-staff; and

Whereas, Eric Shull began his employment with Fall River County on July 8^th, 2019 as a truck driver, hauling gravel to all locations in the County.  He took personnel initiative when needed, at one time purchasing and installing parts on his own time, he was diligent to ensure that the safety of the County was a priority.  His call sign, 27C18, has now been retired;

Whereas, the Fall River County Board of Commissioners give thanks to the service Shull rendered unto Fall River County; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Fall River Board of County Commissioners calls upon all citizens of Fall River County to observe the week of August 5^th through August 12^th, 2021, in recognition of the service of Eric Shull, who by his devotion to duties, had rendered invaluable service to the County, and we further call upon the citizens of Fall River County to pay respect and offer their deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Eric.

Dated this 5^th day of August, 2021.

Official Resolution document.

The assessors will be wrapping up their summer reassessment project in the next couple weeks with two areas: one between Canton & Detroit Ave from 14th St to 18th St. The other between University Ave and Baltimore Ave and from 14th St to 16th St.

Due to various factors the reassessment of the Fall River Road area is being postponed until next year.   In September the assessors will begin fall field work to pick up new construction that has occurred since last November.

More information on summer reassessment here.

Fall River County will be holding a tax deed auction on Thursday, August 19th, 2021 at 2pm at the Fall River County Courthouse. Bids will only be taken in person. Those wishing to bid must be present or send a representative to bid for them.  Winning bidders must be current on all their property taxes in Fall River County per SDCL 10-25-45.

Information is available on the properties included in this sale in the following documents. These have been grouped according to location of the property: Hot Springs, Edgemont, and those outside the incorporated areas.

Properties in the County (outside city limits)
Properties in Edgemont
Properties in Hot Springs

This auction is for a tax deed which is a quit claim deed.  If you are unfamiliar with quit claim deeds and the legal limitations of such, please do research prior to the auction or contact an attorney.  Fall River County employees cannot give legal advice.

The following payment can be accepted: cash, check, credit card transactions will have a 2.5% fee, debit cards will have a $2.50 fee. There will be an additional $30 fee to file the deed. This is not included in the auction price.

NOTICE TO BE READ BEFORE TAX DEED SALE

All delinquent taxes, penalties and interests are abated and are not the responsibility of the new owner of deed.

All special assessments, except for delinquent municipal special assessments (SDCL 10-25-12), are abated from the property. Only municipal special assessments, delinquent, current and future, stay with the property and are the responsibility of the new owner.  As per SDCL 10-25-12, the property is also subject to any claim that the state may have in the property for taxes, liens, or encumbrances.  It is presumed that existing federal liens remain against the property.   Any information or questions or negotiations on these liens need to be directed to the appropriate form of government, not the County.

The issuance of a tax deed pursuant to SDCL 10-25-12 appears to release all other liens of record against the property, not the person.  Examples are: county liens, mechanic liens, special assessments of all non-municipal governments, judgments and mortgages.

At the conclusion of this sale, Fall River County will issue and file a Quit Claim Deed to the property in the name requested by the purchaser. Fall River County makes no guarantee of absolute fee simple marketable title to the property.  It is recommended by the marketable title standards that the purchaser of a County quit claim deed pursue a QUIET TITLE ACTION in order to acquire marketable title to the property (SDCL Chapter 43-30, title standards 26-01 & 26-02).

Week of July 19th: This week the assessors are in the blocks north & west of the Mammoth Site, between Albany-Canton Ave & 14th-16th St, and S Connor St.

Why my property?  Fall River County implemented a 7-year rotation after the county-wide reassessment was completed.  This ensures that every property is physically visited by an assessor at least once every 7 years.  Your neighborhood is one of those scheduled to be visited this year.

What is reassessment?    Reassessment is when the assessor comes to your property to check for any changes, whether improvements or deterioration of buildings.  They will take new exterior photos and walk around the outside of your buildings.  If you are present they may ask you questions about the interior of the building, if you are not present they will leave a doorhanger with contact information so they can converse with you about the property later via phone or email.

What about the COVID-19 pandemic?  The assessor’s work does not require personal contact.  They will remain outside and observe proper distancing.  Our employees will conform to the current recommended practices for safety.   Employees will not enter a home unless invited by the owner and will wear face masks while inside. Employees are health screened every morning before beginning work.  If you have additional concerns about this issue regarding the assessors visiting your property, please contact our office.

When exactly will you be at my property?  We will be posting on our website which streets are being assessed each week, you can check there for updates.

Why don’t you make appointments? The short answer: it takes less time for our assessors to start at one end of the street and do each property than it does to jump from property to property based on appointments.  As we are paid by tax dollars, we consider it most important that we perform this job in a time efficient manner.   The door-to-door method has proven to be three times more efficient than making appointments.

Who is coming? Our assessors will have county identification badges and will be driving a county vehicle. If you are suspicious that someone is falsely claiming to be an assessor, please call our office at 605-745-5136 or Fall River County Dispatch at 605-745-5155.

See Summer Reassessment page for maps of Summer 2021 reassessment area.