This site provides information for taxpayers of Independent School District 698 – Floodwood School District, regarding how the district’s proposed operating referendum and capital project levy 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 a capital project levy and operating referendum on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 seeking voter approval of two ballot questions.
QUESTION 1 would authorize the District to increase its existing referendum revenue authorization by $2,081 per pupil, subject to an annual increase at the rate of inflation. The proposed authorization would raise approximately $350,000 annually and be applicable for ten (10) years starting with taxes payable in 2022.
QUESTION 2 proposes a capital project levy authorization in the amount of 4.284% times the net tax capacity of the school district. The proposed authorization will raise approximately $193,000 for taxes payable in 2022, the first year it is to be levied, and would be authorized for ten (10) years. The money raised by the capital project levy authorization will provide funds for the acquisition and installation of technology and deferred capital maintenance projects.
Question 2 is contingent on Question 1, meaning it can only pass if Question 1 is approved by voters.
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 questions would result in a property tax increase beginning with taxes payable in 2022, and the tax levies would remain in place for 10 years. The district is close to paying off some of its outstanding debt, so for taxes payable in 2022, the required levy for bond payments will go down, offsetting some of the increase for these two questions. To determine the estimated impact of the proposed ballot questions on your 2022 taxes, follow the instructions below or view sample property types and values here.
NOTES: Agricultural property will pay taxes for question 1, the proposed operating referendum authority, based only on the value of the house, garage and one acre. Seasonal recreational residential property (i.e., cabins) will pay no taxes for question 1, the proposed operating referendum authority. Both seasonal recreational and agricultural properties will pay property taxes for Question 2, the capital project levy. All property types will see reductions in taxes due to the reduction in the debt levy. The levy authorized in question 2 does not qualify for the School Bond Agricultural Tax Credit.
Your 2022 taxes will be based on the 2021 Estimated Market Value (EMV), which will be provided on the “Notice of Valuation and Classification” mailed by your county in March 2021 (the example above shows 2020). Because you don’t have that document available, to determine your 2022 value you can review the current “Notice of Valuation and Classification” that was mailed by your county in March 2020, 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.
St. Louis County
Assessor - (218) 262-6089
Click on the link below and select the “Property Tax Lookup” button . Enter your search criteria, most current tax year and click “Search”. On the search results screen, click on the “Property Detail Report” tab for your parcel located on the left-hand side of the screen. Then scroll to the bottom of the first page on the PDF that pops up and find the value listed as “Total EMV” and use that amount in the calculator below.
Aitkin County
Assessor - (218) 927-7327
Click on the link below, select the most current year in the “Tax Year” box, and enter in your parcel number. A PDF of your property tax statement will pop up. Use the number listed as “Estimated Market Value” for the most current 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.
Agricultural 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. PLEASE NOTE: you may enter additional property IDs by clicking the "+" button at the end of each row.
If you have any questions, please call Ehlers at 1-800-552-1171 and ask to speak with a member of our Education Team.
There are certain Minnesota Tax Credits and Deferrals that may affect certain property owners' situations. They include:
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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
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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.
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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