Chatfield High School | Schools | MSHSLThis site provides information for taxpayers of Independent School District 227, Chatfield Public Schools, regarding how the District’s proposed school building bond referendum may affect property taxes. The site was prepared in cooperation with Ehlers, the District’s independent municipal advisor. If you have questions about the information on this site, please contact Ehlers using the information provided below.


About the Referendum

The school board of Independent School District No. 227 (Chatfield Public Schools) will hold a school building bond referendum on February 11, 2025, asking voters to approve one question.

Question 1 would authorize the District to issue general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $11,030,000 for acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities including, but not limited to, construction of a new gymnasium and additional space for commons and fitness activities.

For more information on how these funds would be used, return to the District’s website.


Impact on Property Taxes

Approval of the ballot question would result in a property tax change beginning with taxes payable in 2026, and the tax levies would remain in place for up to 20 years. To determine the estimated impact of the proposed ballot question on your 2026 taxes, follow the instructions below or view sample property types and values here.

Your 2026 taxes will be based on the 2025 Estimated Market Value (EMV), which will be provided on the “Notice of Valuation and Classification” mailed by your county in March 2025. Because the county has not yet published your value for taxes payable 2026, you can review the current value for taxes payable in 2025 using the “Notice of Valuation and Classification” that was mailed by your county in March 2024, your current tax statement, contact your county and ask for the 2024 EMV for taxes payable in 2025, or follow the instructions below to look up your pay 2025 EMV on your county’s website. Please note there may be a change assessed by the county that would be reflected on the next year’s valuation.

Olmsted County
Property Tax Information - (507) 328-6000

Click on the link below and select “Agree” on the disclaimer (may need to allow pop-ups to see this screen). Make sure to select “2024” in the “Asmt Year” drop down, enter the search type (parcel ID, address, lot/block or section/township/range) and click “search”. Select your parcel from the results screen. In the “Reports” section on the right, select “Notice of Valuation” and then click “Go” to view. Your payable 2025 valuation notice will pop up (must allow pop-ups to see this screen). Use the value listed in the gray “Step 1” box as “Estimated Market value” in the calculator below.

Olmsted County Property Search

Fillmore County
Property Tax Information - (507) 765-3868

Click on the link below and select “Agree” on the disclaimer (may need to allow pop-ups to see this screen). Enter the search type (name, address, parcel ID or PLS). Select your parcel from the results screen and scroll down to the “Valuation” section. Use the value listed as “Estimated Market Value” for the 2024 assessment year in the calculator below.

Fillmore County Property Search

Winona County
Property Tax Information - (507) 457-6300

Click on the link below, click  “Agree” on the pop up (must allow pop ups to see this screen) and enter in your search criteria. On the results screen, select your parcel and scroll down to the, “Valuation” section and use the value listed as “Estimated Market Value” for the 2024 Assessment year in the calculator below.

Winona County Property Search


Online Calculators: Estimating Tax Impact

Residential Homestead Property

If you own a RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEAD property, enter the Estimated Market Value below to see the estimated tax impact

Enter only whole numbers to the nearest dollar
(no dollar signs, commas, or decimals).
Commercial / Industrial Property

If you own COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL property, enter the Estimated Market Value below to see the estimated tax impact.

Enter only whole numbers to the nearest dollar
(no dollar signs, commas, or decimals).
Agricultural Property

If you own agricultural or other types of property, please complete the following form and submit it to Ehlers. Once we receive it, an Ehlers representative will contact your county to find the value and classification of your property, calculate the tax impact and contact you via phone or email with the results. Please allow 1-3 days for completion.

PLEASE NOTE: you may enter multiple property IDs by clicking the “+” button at the end of each row.

School Building Bond Agricultural Credit

This property tax credit originally took effect with property taxes payable in 2018. For taxes payable in 2023 and later, the credit reduces taxes for owners of agricultural property in an amount equivalent to 70% of the taxes attributable to school district debt service for all agricultural property, except for the house, garage, and one acre. This credit is directly deducted from property taxes owed and applies to debt service levies for all types of existing and future bonds for construction and renovation projects. The credit is paid through an open and standing appropriation, which means that no action by the Legislature is required each year for this credit to be paid from the state general fund. The credit is automatically deducted on the tax statement and is included in the tax impact estimates provided by Ehlers.

  • Parcel Owner NameParcel ID/Property IDCounty parcel is located in 

If you have any questions regarding your agricultural submission, please call Roxy with our School Finance Team at (651) 697-8584.


There are certain Minnesota Tax Credits and Deferrals that may affect certain property owners' situations. They include:

Minnesota Homestead Credit Refund

If your household income is less than approximately $135,410, you may qualify for the Homestead Credit Refund (also known as the “Circuit Breaker” refund). This program, which has existed since the 1970s, is intended to reduce tax burdens for homeowners with relatively low incomes and relatively high property tax burdens. Some important facts about this program are summarized below.

  • Available each year to owners of homestead property
  • Applies only to the taxes attributable to the house, garage, and one acre on agricultural homestead property
  • Available to all owners of residential homestead and agricultural homestead property with household incomes of less than $135,410
  • Refund is on a sliding scale, based on your income and your total property tax burden
  • The maximum refund is $3,310
  • Also available to renters
  • To determine eligibility and refund amounts, complete Minnesota tax form M1PR
Special Property Tax Refund

If your total property taxes increase by more than 12 percent and more than $100 from one year to the next, you may qualify for a state refund equal to a portion of the increase. There is no income limit for this refund and the maximum refund is $1,000.

To determine eligibility and refund amounts, complete Minnesota tax form M1PR.

Senior Citizen Property Tax Deferral

If you are 65 years or older and have a household income of $96,000 or less, you may be eligible to defer a portion of the property taxes on your home, through the Senior Citizen Property Tax Deferral Program. The program:

  • Limits the maximum amount of property tax you pay to 3 percent of your total household income
  • Provides predictability; the amount of tax you pay will not change for as long as you participate in this program

The 2023 Legislature modified the requirements of this program by increasing the household income limit to $96,000. This new income limit is in effect for taxes payable in 2024 and later years.