FS1 - Planning for Effective Communication and Plain Language for Assessors: 4 Hrs Thursday Morning - Instructor:  Larry Mastbaum, Editor in Chief, Communications Division, MN DOR.  This seminar will introduce the concepts of strategic communication and plain language, providing tools and examples for assessors to communicate more effectively with property owners, colleagues, and other audiences.

You will learn how:  -Communications planning and plain language help your office deliver clear, focused messages that connect with your customers.  -Using plain language is not "dumbing down," but respecting your reader's time.

Note: Please bring one or two pieces of written correspondence – such as a pamphlet, application, letter, form, or website content – produced by your office. During this seminar, we will offer you a hands-on experience in plain language and/or building a communications plan.

FS2 - Small Town Commercial: 4 Hrs Thursday Morning -Instructors:  Paul Knutson, RES, SAMA, County Assessor & Josh Schoen, SAMA, Assistant County Assessor,  Rice County.  This seminar is a practical approach to valuing small town commercial property. Learn basic techniques to value commercial property in areas with limited sales. Attendees will be exposed to small town commercial, analysis, techniques and valuation. This seminar will use DOR five-year studies, site valuation techniques, time adjustments and depreciation case study to correlate a direct market method using extraction. Ultimately a final value for commercial property will be a result that complies with DOR standards.

FS3 Tax Court 101: 4 Hrs Thursday Morning - Instructor:  Ann Miller, SAMA, Washington County.  This is an overview of basic tax court procedures from the filed petition to stipulation or settlement. This is developed for Assessor's who have little experience with petitions but also a great refresher for those that have been doing it awhile.  Basic topics include: When should I call? With whom should I discuss the case? What is an interrogatory? When should I get an appraisal? When should I become trial ready? Tips and tricks and useful forms.  This seminar will help demystify tax court petitions and answer your questions of what should I do next and when! There will be a panel discussion on the top 3 – 5 tax court decisions.

Cancelled - FS4 -Ethics for MN Assessors: 3 Hrs Thursday Afternoon – Instructor: Jessi Glancy, MN Dept. of Revenue: This three-hour training is designed for all licensed Minnesota assessors with a focus on ethical behavior, ethical assessment practices, and professional conduct.  After completing this course the students will have a better understanding of what good ethics looks like, how to handle ethical dilemmas, why standardized assessment practices are so important and ethical leadership.  This course will include some instructor led discussion, hands on group activities that will require participation, and case studies that include ethical dilemmas. Class Limit of 50

***THE STATE BOARD OF ASSESSORS GRANTS THREE (3) CEH FOR THIS SEMINAR!

FS5 Exempt Property Forum: 4 Hrs Thursday Afternoon - Instructors: David Kasperson, SAMA, City of Minneapolis Assessor’s Office; Sara Bruggeman, Assistant County Attorney, Hennepin County. This event will bring together decision-makers from around the state to learn about and discuss some of the challenges we face with exempt properties. There will be a mix of presentations, case studies, and open discussion. Topics will include classification splits, personal property accounts, purely public charities, and helpful tools for the upcoming reapplication year.