South Dakota Association of Assessing Officers

I would like to thank the Association members for giving me the opportunity to serve as your president. It is going to be difficult to follow in Kim’s footsteps as President, but I am going to give it my best effort. I would also like to thank all who asked to be part of a committee or agreed to stay on as committee members. Without the members of the association serving on the various committees, it would be difficult, if not impossible to achieve any success as president. 

Speaking of achievements, I would like to see the Association try to come together as one unified body. I realize it’s difficult, especially when purposed legislation affects each county differently, but without a unified stand, legislation could be passed that is not in the best interest of the majority of our property owners or equalization among the classes of property. According to our job description, we need to strive for equalization, but let’s not get so caught up in trying to correct current statute that we overlook the affect it is going to have on our property owners. Ideally, all classes of property should return to a true market value, but in the same breath, levies need to be addressed, to counter the increases that will be evident. If anyone has a brainstorm on the subject, please contact the legislative committee. I’m sure they would be more than happy to listen!

         On a lighter note, I, along with District II,  would like to invite everyone to the 2008 conference that will be held at Deadwood Gulch Resort, May 20^th through May 23^rd.  We hope to be able to offer as interesting an agenda as Kim and her district provided this year. Since this year’s golf tournament was cancelled, Dick was kind enough to give us all of his door prizes to be awarded at next year’s tournament, so along with whatever we can “scrape up,” we should have plenty of prizes for everyone!  

Again, thank you to all, and a special thank you to Joyce for her vote of confidence! I look forward to being your “host” for the next year!

Darlene Piekkola
President