IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County’s taxable value climbed by nearly $91.7 million in 2024, Equalization Director Matt Baumgartner reported Monday.

The higher taxable value in 2024 will add an estimated $562,000 in property tax revenues for county operations, an increase of 8.9%, Baumgartner said.

The increase, he told the county board, is due to new construction, the uncapping or transfer of certain properties, and a higher inflationary cap. It follows a 5.2% increase in 2023 and a 3.8% increase in 2022.

The Michigan State Tax Commission inflation rate cap for taxable valuations in 2024 was 5%, the same as in 2023. It’s the maximum allowed and had previously not been reached since state voters adopted Proposal A in 1994.

For 2025, the inflation rate cap for taxable valuations will be 3.1%, the Michigan Department of Treasury announced last week.

The cap is based on the Consumer Price Index but can go no higher than 5%. In 2023, the CPI went up 7.9% and in 2024 the CPI increase was 5.1%.

According to the 2024 Apportionment Report, the total taxable value in the county is $1.11 billion, up from $1.02 billion in 2023.

In other action, the county board:

— In a 3-1 vote, appointed Gary Sparpana to serve a partial term expiring at the end of the year on the Veterans Service Office Board. Sparpana was supported by Chairman Henry Wender and commissioners John Degenaer Jr. and Barbara Kramer. Commissioner Joe Stevens voted for Dave Stohl, who was the only other applicant. Commissioner Ann Martin was absent. An appointment to a full four-year term will be taken up next month.

— Appointed Colin Jacobetti and Kevin Pirlot to fill partial terms expiring Feb. 27 on the Construction Board of Appeals. Two vacancies remain.

— Received a public reminder from Kramer, who chaired the meeting, that the proposed Dickinson County Master Plan remains available for review at https://www.dickinsoncountymi.gov/. At Wender’s direction, commissioners have alternately chaired regular county board meetings over the past two months.

— Heard Pirlot, who served on the county board in 2019-20, thank departing board members for their service to the county. Only Stevens and Degenaer are on the Nov. 5 ballot in their respective districts to return to the board in 2025. Pirlot, who also serves on the Northpointe Behavioral Healthcare System Board, noted that Brent Johnson was named interim CEO at a recent Northpointe meeting. Jennifer Cescolini’s resignation as CEO becomes effective Thursday and Martin had previously told the county board that the plan was for Johnson to hold the interim post, although the Northpointe panel had yet to officially act. Johnson is the community mental health agency’s chief operating officer.