This site provides information for taxpayers of Independent School District 542-Battle Lake 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 presented on this site, please contact Ehlers using the information provided below.
About the Referendum
The district will hold a special election on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, seeking voter approval of one ballot question.
QUESTION 1 would authorize the district to issue up to $30,520,000 in general obligation school building bonds to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities including replacement of windows, exterior doors and portions of the roof, and sealing the building envelope; the construction of a secure entrance and vestibule; the construction and installation of new mechanical heating, ventilation and cooling equipment, and electrical infrastructure; the replacement of failed sanitary lines; the replacement of the boiler plant; the completion of ADA accessibility improvements at school sites and facilities; renovations and upgrades to the dining commons and cafeteria; renovations and updates to the career and technical education shops, classrooms and digital lab; remodeling to repurpose existing school spaces, including converting space into an events concessions area with a warming kitchen and converting the computer lab into a technical maker space; the construction and equipping of an addition to the existing school site to provide music rooms, a weight room, new ADA restrooms, changing rooms, and a receiving area; the construction and installation of a fire alarm system; and external improvements and repairs to parking surfaces.
For more information on how these funds would be used, view the District’s website.
Impact on Property Taxes
Approval of the ballot question would result in a property tax increase beginning with taxes payable in 2024 and the debt service tax levies would remain in place for 20 years. To determine the estimated impact of the proposed ballot question on your 2024 taxes, follow the instructions below or view sample property types and values here.
Your 2024 taxes will be based on the 2023 Estimated Market Value (EMV), which was provided on the “Notice of Valuation and Classification” mailed by your county in March 2023.
Click on the link below and enter in your search criteria. On the search results screen, click on your parcel in the left-hand column and then click on the parcel information image showing values to open it in a new tab and view larger. Use the “Total Value” listed for the 2024 year 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.
Commercial / Industrial Property
If you own COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL property, enter the Estimated Market Value below to see the estimated tax impact.
Seasonal Recreational Residential Property
If you own SEASONAL RECREATIONAL RESIDENTIAL property, enter the Estimated Market Value to see the potential tax impact.
Agricultural Property
**For all agricultural property, estimated tax impact for 2024 includes a 70% reduction due to the School Building Bond Agricultural Credit. Average value per acre is the total estimated market value of all land & buildings divided by total acres. If the property includes a home, then the tax impact on the house, garage, and one acre of land will be calculated in addition to the taxes per acre, on the same basis as a residential homestead or non-homestead property. If the same property owner owns more than $2.15 million of agricultural homestead land and buildings, a portion of the property will be taxed at the higher non-homestead rate.
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 up to 10 property IDs by clicking the “+” button at the end of each row. For more than 10 properties, please contact Ehlers.
If you have any questions, please call Ehlers at 1-800-552-1171 and ask to speak with a member of our School Finance Team.
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 $128,280, 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 $128,280
- Refund is on a sliding scale, based on your income and your total property tax burden
- The maximum refund is $3,140
- 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 6 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 $2,500.
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.