IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County’s total equalized property valuation has climbed by a staggering 20% over the past year, reaching $1.45 billion, an increase of about $240 million, county board members learned this week.

With other factors included, Equalization Director Matt Baumgartner expects the increase in taxable value this year will be 8.7%, which follows a 5.1% increase in 2023. That should translate into a similar increase in property tax revenues.

The increase, Baumgartner said, is chiefly due to higher property assessments as well as new construction.

Unless an addition has been built, however, a higher assessment doesn’t necessarily mean a similar tax increase. Under state law, a cap is placed on taxable value.

The Michigan State Tax Commission inflation rate cap for taxable valuations in 2024 is 5%, which is the same as a year ago. It’s the maximum allowed since state voters adopted Proposal A in 1994.

Without the cap, homeowners may have seen a 7.9% inflationary hike on 2023 tax bills. In 2024, the actual change in inflation was 5.1%, according to the tax commission.

The 5% cap reached in 2023 was the biggest increase in 28 years. A 3.3% cap in 2022 was the highest in more than a decade.

For Dickinson County, new construction is a significant factor in this year’s property valuation gain, as evidenced by the anticipated 8.7% jump in taxable value.

Commissioner Joe Stevens said that speaks well for the county, and asked Baumgartner if the increases in the 2024 equalization report are unprecedented.

“I’ve not seen that since I’ve been here,” he said.

Baumgartner has served as equalization director since 2020 after several years as an assistant.

In other action Monday, the county board:

— Heard Stevens say he “couldn’t be more pleased for what I saw” during a shadowing experience at Northpointe Behavioral Health in Kingsford. Meanwhile, Commissioner Ann Martin said the Northpointe Board will have a reorganizational meeting April 18 at its Kingsford office after an April 4 meeting in Iron River was canceled due to lack of a quorum. Also, a town hall at Northpointe’s Menominee office must be rescheduled after being canceled due to a conflicting meeting. Menominee County Board last month sought a corrective action plan from Northpointe, citing a lack of communication over the provision of crisis services.

— Was introduced to Mindy Meyers, who will serve as executive director of the Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance. Meyers previously was program director for the Iron Mountain Downtown Development Authority. She’ll succeed Lois Ellis, who is retiring after more than six years in the position, having worked in the past for both the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and Lake Superior Community Partnership. “It’s been such a pleasure working in the community,” Ellis told the board, adding, “It’s been wonderful to be a partner of yours in economic development.” Meyers, who has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and a master’s from Arizona State University, said she looks forward to advocating for the community and its businesses.

— Learned from Sheriff Scott Rutter that K-9 officer Cheeto will soon join the department under a deputy who will undergo training as a handler. Controller Brian Bousley was authorized to make a truck purchase for the new team, with the K-9 also receiving support from private donations. Rutter said he expects Cheeto will be “an outstanding asset.”

— Approved, on a trial basis, a job description for a lead dispatcher who will help oversee 911 personnel under supervision of the sheriff and undersheriff, as well as working with the 911 Advisory Committee. The position will be posted. The board also consented to starting Jason Gorman at the second year of the wage scale for dispatcher, due to more than 20 years of previous dispatch experience.

— Heard John Sacchetti of Iron Mountain say the local July 20-21 Gus Macker tournament will again benefit the Imagination Factory Community Center. This year, he said, marks the 50th anniversary of the outdoor 3-on-3 basketball event originated by Scott McNeal in Lowell, Mich. More information is available at https://gusmackerim.org/.

— Noted Lake Antoine Park Partners will have several work bees in the coming weeks, with a new website also planned.