This site provides information for taxpayers of Waterville-Elysian-Morristown School District regarding how the district's proposed referendum would affect their property taxes. The site was prepared by the school district's municipal advisors, Ehlers, in cooperation with the school district. If you have questions about the information on this site, contact Ehlers at the numbers listed below.

About the Referendum

The district will be holding an election on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 seeking voter approval of up to $19,300,000 in general obligation school building bonds to finance the following projects:

• Construction and installation of security, health and safety, fire protection, and accessibility improvements
• Construction and installation of mechanical, HVAC and electrical infrastructure improvements
• Construction and equipping of various improvements at the elementary school, including a classroom addition
• Construction and equipping of various improvements at the high school, including the renovation, repair, remodeling, refurbishing and upgrading of science, career and tech classrooms.

For additional information on how the funds would be used, click on the "Return to School District Website" button above.

Impact on Property Taxes

Approval of the ballot question would cause a property tax increase beginning with taxes payable in 2019, and the debt service tax levies would be in place for 20 years. To determine the estimated impact of the proposed ballot questions on your 2019 taxes, follow the instructions below or view sample property types and values here.

Your 2019 taxes will be based on the 2018 Estimated Market Value (EMV) listed on the "Notice of Valuation and Classification" mailed by your county in March 2018 (see example below). If you don't have that document available, contact your county and ask for the 2018 EMV for taxes payable in 2019 or find the information online using the instructions below.

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

Estimated Market Value:

Calculate

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

Estimated Market Value:

Calculate

If you own AGRICULTURAL or other types of property, we recommend you contact Ehlers.

• Find the Property I.D. number(s) for all parcels of property that you own within the district (normally shown in the upper left corner of your property tax statement).
• Email or call Ehlers
  • Send an email message to mnschools@ehlers-inc.com with your name, school district name, and property I.D. number(s). PLEASE SPECIFY WHAT COUNTY YOUR PARCELS ARE IN.
  • Call Ehlers (Twin Cities area 651-697-8500 or toll-free 1-800-552-1171) during regular business hours and ask to speak to any member of the Education Team regarding the tax impact of the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown School District referendum; have your Property I.D. number(s) ready.
  • An Ehlers representative will contact your county to find the value and classification of your property, calculate the tax impact, and either call or e-mail you with the results. Please allow 1-3 days for a response.

School Building Bond Agricultural Credit

Effective for taxes payable in 2018, this property tax credit will provide owners of agricultural property with a 40% credit for the taxes attributable to school district debt service for all agricultural property, except for the house, garage, and one acre.  This ongoing credit will be directly deducted from property taxes owed and applies to debt service taxes for all types of existing and future building bonds for construction and renovation projects. The credit is automatically deducted on the tax statement and is included in the tax impact estimates provided by Ehlers.

Specific information that may affect some property owners’ situations is included below:

Click the links below for information regarding how state and federal programs may reduce the net impact of the proposed property tax increases for some taxpayers.

1. Minnesota Homestead Credit Refund

   If your adjusted gross income is less than approximately $110,650, 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 $110,650
   • Refund is on a sliding scale, based on your income and your total property tax burden
   • The maximum refund is $2,710
   • Average refund was $853 for property tax year 2016
   • Also available to renters
   • To determine eligibility and refund amounts, complete Minnesota tax form M1PR (available online a www.revenue.state.mn.us).

   If you qualify for this program, you may receive an additional refund of up to 80% of the amount of the property tax increase caused by the proposed referendum. For example, if the referendum increases your property taxes by $50 per year, your refund may cover up to $40 of this increase.

2. 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. To determine eligibility and refund amounts complete Minnesota tax form M1PR (available online at www.revenue.state.mn.us).

3. Homestead Exclusion

   If your property is homesteaded, then your home is eligible to receive the Homestead Market Value Exclusion. The Homestead Market Value Exclusion causes the amount of the value that is taxable to be reduced by excluding a portion of a property’s estimated market value for certain portions of the school levies. Be certain to file your homestead status with your county. For more information, go to http://www.revenue.state.mn.us/local_gov/prop_tax_admin/pages/hmve.aspx.

4. Senior Citizen Property Tax Deferral

   If you are 65 years or older and have a household income of $60,000 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. Some basic facts about this program are summarized below.

   • It limits the maximum amount of property tax you pay to 3 percent of your total household income, and
   • It provides predictability; the amount of tax you pay will not change for as long as you participate in this program.

   For more information go to: http://www.revenue.state.mn.us/propertytax/ . Under the General Information heading, click on Fact Sheets and then click on Senior Citizen Property Tax Deferral.

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