Farmers getting ready to present their cases to the board
The Board of Equalization is going to be meeting with farmers who appealed their property assessment values on Monday.
This is a result of farmers who said the agricultural property values in Jefferson County have skyrocketed this year.
Farmers who own land in more than one county question why one county, such as Bonneville County, which is one of the neighboring counties, saw a decrease in property values, while another would jump by so much.
Local farmer Andrew Mickelsen, whose family owns Mickelsen Farms, said he along with other farmers will be presenting their cases to the Board of Equalization.
“There are a lot of farmers that are very frustrated by this situation,” Mickelsen said.
Mickelsen’s Farms sits on County Line road, which is between Jefferson and Bonneville counties.
“We can’t just go along with it, keep paying more and more in taxes. We reached a point where we just can’t keep giving,” Mickelsen said.
Mickelsen said all he sees is an increase, and that will effect his overhead and his entire business.
“Last year the taxes were double on Jefferson County of what they were in Bonneville County, and that’s before any of the increase proposals this year,” Mickelsen said.
Mickelesen said this year Bonneville County brought its taxes down.
“Because commodity prices have been dropping, farming is getting to be a little scary right now,” Mickelsen said.
Mickelsen said he’s also concerned about a proposed water mitigation plan that will require farmers to cut back on water.
“We aren’t going to be able to grow crops that we have been because we are cutting back on water,” Mickelsen said.
Mickelsen said he he’s been a farmer his entire life.
“I grew up coming out on the farm. I’ve been helping out since I was 10 years old,” Mickelsen said.
He also said he’s not just standing up for his farm only.
“Every day we feed people, and that’s important,” Mickelsen said.
The Board of Equalization will hold its hearing Monday at 1 p.m. in Rigby.
