A Professional Assessor For Every Taxpayer
Meet Mike
Michael Castellon is the St. Joseph County Assessor, a 20-year U.S. Navy Seabees veteran, and a proven public servant committed to integrity, openness, and accountable government.
He previously served three terms as Penn Township Assessor and now leads the St. Joseph County Assessor’s Office, modernizing operations, expanding community outreach, and ensuring every staff member holds or is pursuing Indiana’s highest Level 3 certification.
Michael and his wife, Heather, are committed to delivering fair assessments, modern technology, a highly professional staff, and transparent service for every taxpayer in St. Joseph County.
Mike’s Track Record
As St. Joseph County Assessor, Michael Castellon has focused on modernizing the office, improving taxpayer service, and raising professional standards, delivering a more consistent, responsive experience for residents across South Bend, Mishawaka, and the entire county.
A 20-year U.S. Navy Seabees veteran, Michael brings disciplined, mission-driven leadership to public service. He previously served three terms as Penn Township Assessor before being elected County Assessor, where he has emphasized accuracy, accessibility, and accountable government.
Under his leadership, the Assessor’s Office has strengthened training and certification standards, expanded outreach to help residents better understand assessments and appeals, and continued implementing modern tools to make property information easier to access.
Since taking office on January 1, 2023, initiated a comprehensive operational audit and launched a department-wide modernization initiative that transformed efficiency, transparency, and taxpayer service.
Within two years, nearly 100% of appraisal staff achieved State Level 3 Appraiser certification through ARPA-funded training investments.
Michael and his team implemented a new, fully integrated appraisal platform and online engagement portal to enhance transparency, accuracy, and public access to information.
Led the in-house digitization of hundreds of thousands of records, generating an estimated $2.6 million in professional cost savings.
Reengineered the appeals process to provide one-on-one taxpayer communication while processing record caseloads with unprecedented speed and consistency.
Completed a comprehensive countywide land study and neighborhood value adjustments to stabilize property valuations and ensure equity.
Partnered with state legislators to advance and secure meaningful tax relief measures benefiting veterans and senior citizens.
Re-Elect Mike as your County Assessor!
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