PRINCETON - Representative Dan Swanson is partnering with the Knox, Bureau and Henry County Farm Bureaus to host a farmland assessment meeting in each of the three counties. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss increasing property assessments and adjustments due to flooding. The meetings will be held on Monday, March 2 at:

Carl Sandburg College, 2400 Tom L. Wilson Blvd., Galesburg, 8:30- 10:30 a.m.

Bureau County Metro Center, 837 Park Ave. West, Princeton, 2-4 p.m.

Black Hawk East Auditorium, 26230 Black Hawk Road, Galva, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Due in part to a change in the Farmland Assessment Act, all farmland assessments will continue to go up. The rate of increase will be largely dependent on the soil type. Poorer soils will continue to see higher than 10 percent increases while better producing soils can expect an increase of less than 10 percent. This increase in assessed values will be reflected on property tax bills payable in 2020 and for several years to come.

Additional information will be provided on the opportunity to receive a flood debasement on those acres that saw crop loss and prevented planting due to last year’s flooding.

The presentations will be given by Brenda Matherly, Director of Local Government with Illinois Farm Bureau, and will provide attendees with a better understanding of how farmland assessments are calculated and the long-term impact of those values.

To accommodate seating and materials, please pre-register with the Knox County Farm Bureau (309) 342-2036, Bureau County Farm Bureau (815) 875-6468 or Henry County Farm Bureau (309) 937-2411.