Alternative Evaluation Procedures for South Dakota Use-Value Assessment of Agricultural Lands

Property taxes for agricultural lands continue to be a source of concern to both agricultural producers who must pay them and local units of government which depend upon this revenue. Recently attention has focused on the assessment criteria for agricultural lands. Should the assessment of agricultural lands be based on market values or productivity? If productivity is used, what estimation procedure should be used? This research bulletin puts these public affairs questions in a decision making framework. The purpose is to educate rather than to advocate a particular solution