This site provides information for taxpayers of Independent School District 391 – Cleveland, regarding how the district’s proposed operating 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 district will hold a special election for an operating levy referendum on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 seeking voter approval of one ballot question.
QUESTION 1 would revoke the school district’s existing referendum revenue authorization of $580.95 per pupil, and to replace that authorization with a new authorization of $750.00 per pupil.
For more information on how these funds would be used, return to 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 2021, and the tax levies would remain in place for 10 years. To determine the estimated impact of the proposed ballot question on your 2021 taxes, follow the instructions below or view sample property types and values here.
NOTE: Agricultural property will pay taxes for the proposed referendum based only on the value of the house, garage and one acre. Seasonal recreational residential property (i.e., cabins) will pay no taxes for the proposed referendum.
Your 2021 taxes will be based on the 2020 Estimated Market Value (EMV), which was provided on the “Notice of Valuation and Classification” mailed by your county in March 2020 (see example). If you don’t have that document available, please contact your county and ask for the 2020 EMV for taxes payable in 2021, or follow the instructions below to look up your 2020 EMV on your county’s website.
Click on the link below, select, “Agree” on the pop-up and enter in your search criteria. On the search results screen, select your parcel. Use the number listed as “Estimated Market Value” for the most current assessment year in the calculator below.
Click on the link below, select, “Agree” on the pop-up and enter in your search criteria. On the search results screen, select your parcel and scroll down to the “Valuation – Assessment Year” section. Use the number listed as “EMV “Estimated Market Value) Total” for the most current year in the calculator below.
ONLINE CALCULATORS: ESTIMATING TAX IMPACT
Residential OR Commercial Property
Only bond payments qualify for the agricultural tax credit, and agricultural land is not taxed for operating referendum levies, therefore there is no tax impact for these classifications of properties, and no credit related to the operating referendum levy.
There are certain Minnesota Tax Credits and Deferrals that may reduce the impact of property taxes for specific owners' situations. They include:
Minnesota Homestead Credit Refund
If your adjusted gross income is less than approximately $115,020, 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 $115,020
- Refund is on a sliding scale, based on your income and your total property tax burden
- The maximum refund is $2,820
- 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 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.
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. 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