This site provides information for taxpayers of Independent School District 194, Lakeville Area 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. 194, Lakeville Area Schools, will hold a school building bond referendum on May 12, 2026, asking voters to approve one question.
Question 1 would authorize the District to issue its general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $139,600,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including the construction and equipping of building additions at McGuire Middle School, Kenwood Trail Middle School and Century Middle School.
For more information on how these funds would be used, return to the District’s website.
Impact on Property Taxes
Approval of the ballot questions would result in a property tax change beginning with taxes payable in 2027, and the tax levies would remain in place for 21 years. To determine the estimated impact of the proposed ballot questions on your 2027 taxes, follow the instructions below or view sample property types and values here.
Your 2027 taxes will be based on the 2026 Estimated Market Value (EMV), which will be provided on the “Notice of Valuation and Classification” mailed by your county in March 2026. Because the county has not yet published your value for taxes payable 2027, you can review the current value for taxes payable in 2026 using the “Notice of Valuation and Classification” that was mailed by your county in March 2025, your current tax statement, contact your county and ask for the 2025 EMV for taxes payable in 2026, or follow the instructions below to look up your pay 2026 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.
Click on the link below, review and click ok (may need to allow pops ups to see this screen). Enter your search criteria, click the magnifying glass search icon to view your parcel information. In the detail box that pops up, scroll down to use the value listed as, “Estimated Value” for assessment year 2025 in the calculator below.
Click on the link below, “Agree” to the disclosure (must allow pop ups to see this screen along with the valuation notice in a later step), enter in your search criteria and click on the “Search” box to the right. Select your parcel from the results screen and scroll down to the section labeled, “Values” and use the “Estimated Market Value” in the calculator below.
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.
Residential Non-Homestead Single Unit
If you own a RESIDENTIAL NON-HOMESTEAD SINGLE UNIT property, enter the Estimated Market Value below to see the estimated tax impact
Residential Non-Homestead Multi-Unit and Apartments
If you own a RESIDENTIAL NON-HOMESTEAD MULTI UNIT AND APARTMENTS property, enter the Estimated Market Value below to see the estimated tax impact
Commercial / Industrial Property
If you own COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL property, enter the Estimated Market Value below to see the estimated tax impact.
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 $139,320, 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 $139,320
- Refund is on a sliding scale, based on your income and your total property tax burden
- The maximum refund is $3,310
- To determine eligibility and refund amounts, complete Minnesota tax form M1PR
For more information and instructions on obtaining a property tax refund, please visit https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/property-tax-refund.
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.
For more information and instructions on obtaining a property tax refund, please visit https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/property-tax-refund.
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
For more information and instructions on obtaining a property tax refund, please visit https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/property-tax-refund.
Income Taxes
If you itemize deductions for federal income taxes, you may deduct a portion of your property taxes paid.
Starting with your 2024 taxes, renters can claim the Renter’s refundable credit on a Minnesota income tax return. Renters will no longer file a Renter’s Property Tax Refund.