For the first time, Burleigh County property market values, outside of Bismarck, have exceeded $1 billion - a result of the growth in the community, according to auditor/treasurer Kevin Glatt.

Tax Director Sue Finneman reported the total 2007 market value for Burleigh increased 12.93 percent.

Should the county mill levy remain the same as 2006, an additional $1.3 million in taxes will be collected.

Bismarck's market values saw an average 11.9 percent increase, bringing the total market value of property to $3.6 billion.

But local taxing jurisdictions know that taxpayers are becoming increasingly aware of rising property taxes, and have been meeting to see how they can reduce taxes.

Agricultural land makes up about 16 percent of the property value, commercial property 7 percent, and 77 percent is residential. New construction accounted for about 10 percent of the market value increase, and Glatt figures the vast majority - about 95 percent - of the new construction is residential.

"Burleigh saw just under $16 million in new residential construction in 2007, and about $2 million in commercial construction," Glatt said.

The average county agricultural value, as certified by the the state's Tax Department, is $188.85 per acre, according to Finneman. The current agricultural property value is $184.92 per acre, and Finneman is recommending a 2 percent overall increase to ag properties, bringing the average to $188.62 per acre, well within the tolerance level allowed by the State Board of Equalization. Ag property values increased 4 percent in 2006.

Local boards of equalization met in April, and the values established by the townships are acceptable pursuant to state tax department guidelines.

Glatt stressed that increased values don't necessarily mean that taxes will go up, and local jurisdictions are just beginning to look at next year's budgets.