JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Farmers in Stutsman County will be receiving a letter from the county in regards to the new application for the Farm Residence Property Tax Exemption.

Under a law passed in the 2019 Legislative session, to claim the farm home property tax exemption, filers must show that 66 percent of their gross income is derived from farming activities. The change affects the active farmer category for Farm Residence Exemption.

Tax Director Tyler Perleberg says the previous law used to state that 50% or more of net income had to come from farm activities and farmers could not have over $40,000 of non-farm income.

Perleberg says they expect some “chaos” to follow, as is the case with a new application. But he says it will hold some accountable to show and prove their income.

He says they’ll encourage those who apply to do so online, but they’ll be willing to help anyone who needs assistance. He says they expect the Tax Equalization Office to be busy for a majority of 2020 with the process.

Deadline will be February 1st, but Perleberg says they will accept applications past the deadline.

In other county news, commissioners voted Mark Close to continue as Chairman and Dennis Ova as Vice Chairman of the County Commission. The commission also approved the 2020 Human Service Zone Human Service Fund Budget.