This site provides information for taxpayers of Independent School District 2149, Minnewaska 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. 2149, (Minnewaska Area Schools) will hold a school building bond referendum on November 4, 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 $25,000,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities including, security and safety improvements at school sites and facilities; the remodeling and construction of improvements to learning spaces, including updates to career and technical education (CTE), media center and early childhood spaces; the construction and equipping of a multi-purpose gymnasium and fitness space; the completion of deferred maintenance projects at school sites and facilities; and the expansion of childcare facilities.

For more information on how these funds would be used, return to the District’s referendum 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 21 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 was provided on the “Notice of Valuation and Classification” mailed by your county in March 2025.

Pope County
Property Tax Information - (320) 634-7715

Click on the link below, review and accept the disclaimer (may need to allow pops ups to see this screen). Enter your search criteria, click “Continue” and select your parcel from the results screen. Use the left-most value listed as “Total MKT” in the “Value Information” section for pay 2026 in the calculator below.

Pope County Property Search

Douglas County
Property Tax Information - (320) 762-3884

Click on the link below, review and accept the disclaimer (may need to allow pops ups to see this screen). Enter your search criteria, click “Continue” and select your parcel from the results screen. Use the left-most value listed as “Total MKT” in the “Value Information” section for pay 2026 in the calculator below.

Douglas County Property Search

Stearns County
Property Tax Information - (320) 656-3680

Click on the link below and enter in your search criteria. On the search results screen, click on your parcel number. Click to view “Property Values” on the left. Use the value listed for pay year 2026 as “EMV Total” in the calculator below.

Stearns 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).
Seasonal Recreational Residential Property

If you own SEASONAL RECREATIONAL RESIDENTIAL property, enter the Estimated Market Value to see the potential tax impact.

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

School Building Bond Agricultural Credit

The property tax 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.

 

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

  • 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 $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
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

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.