This site provides information for taxpayers of the City of Owatonna, regarding how the public safety facility projects may affect property taxes. The site was prepared in cooperation with Ehlers, the City’s independent municipal advisor. If you have questions about the information on this site, please contact Ehlers using the information provided below.
This calculator provides an estimate of what the proposed police and fire facilities could mean for your property taxes, based on current assumptions and a 20-year bonding model. It is meant to help Owatonna taxpayers understand a possible tax impact.
Final tax impacts have not been set. Actual amounts will be decided through the City’s formal review and approval process and may be different than the estimate shown here.
About the Public Safety Facilities Construction Project
Public safety is a core responsibility of city government. The City of Owatonna’s police and fire facilities have served our community well but no longer meet modern public safety standards nor the needs of our first responders and the essential services they provide.
The City is planning to build new public safety facilities to meet the needs of our community and address the challenges of our aging police and fire department facilities.
For more information on how these funds would be used, return to the City’s website.
Impact on Property Taxes
The public safety facilities construction project would result in a property tax change beginning with taxes payable in 2027, and the tax levies would remain in place for 20 years. To determine the estimated impact of the proposed construction project on your 2027 taxes, follow the instructions below.
Your estimated 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 the county in March 2026. Since 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 the county in March 2025 or your current tax statement. You may also contact the 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 the county’s website. Please note there may be a change assessed by the county that would be reflected in next year’s valuation.
Click on the link below, review and agree to the terms and conditions (may need to allow pops ups to see this screen). Enter your search criteria and select your parcel from the results screen. Click the “Tax Information” button and use the left-most value listed as “Total MKT” in the “Value Information” section for pay 2026 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 and Apartments
If you own a RESIDENTIAL NON-HOMESTEAD SINGLE UNIT AND APARTMENTS 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
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.