OTTUMWA, IOWA -- For Monday's Facebook story of the day, you chose to know more about how property taxes are calculated.
Property taxes are not just based on one person's assessment. It goes through several offices before it is determined how much each person must pay on their year's taxes.
In Iowa, it starts at the county assessor's office.
"When we look at a property, we get measurements, we try and check property in the area and how much they're selling for, compare it to that," said Gary Smith, Wapello County Assessor. "We look for any improvements in the property."
The assessment is then reported to the county auditor, and then to the Iowa Department of Revenue. The state determines a local county budget, and the auditor establishes a tax rate.
Property assessments are conducted every two years, or whenever a property is built upon or improved.
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