This site provides information for taxpayers of Independent School District 238 – Mabel-Canton, regarding how the district’s proposed operating & 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 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 & a bond referendum on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 seeking voter approval of three ballot questions.
QUESTION 1 would renew the District’s existing referendum revenue authorization of $803.10 per pupil which is scheduled to expire after taxes payable in 2021. The proposed renewal would be applicable for ten years, beginning with taxes payable in 2022.
QUESTION 2 would authorize the district to issue up to $5,825,000 of bonds for improvements to school sites and facilities including improvements to toilets, HVAC systems, roofing, windows, gymnasium, and other associated deferred maintenance, life safety, and accessibility upgrades. This would cause an increase in taxes for 20 years, beginning with taxes payable 2021.
QUESTION 3 would authorize the district to issue up to $780,000 of bonds for construction of updates of science rooms, the completion of classroom finishes, the upgrading of electrical systems, the acquisition and installation of playground equipment and other deferred maintenance upgrades.
Question 3 is contingent on Question 2, meaning it can only pass if Question 2 is approved by voters.
For more information on how these funds would be used, return to the District’s website.
Impact on Property Taxes
Approval of ballot question 1 would result with the existing authorization continuing for 10 years beginning with taxes payable in 2022, unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.
Approval of ballot questions 2 & 3 would result in a property tax increase beginning with taxes payable in 2021, and the tax levies would remain in place for 20 years. To determine the estimated impact of the proposed ballot questions on your 2021 taxes, follow the instructions below or view sample property types and values here.
NOTES: Agricultural property will pay taxes for the proposed operating referendum question 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 operating referendum question.
The estimated tax impact is calculated using the current school building bond agricultural credit. This is the estimated net tax impact.
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 and insert your search criteria. On the search results screen, click on your parcel located in the left-hand column of the screen. Use the value listed as, “Est. Market Value – Total” in the calculator below.
Fillmore County Property Search
Click on the link below, click, “Agree” and insert your search criteria. On the search results screen, click on your parcel located in the left-hand column of the screen. Scroll down to the “Taxation” section and use the value listed as, “Estimated Market Value” for the most current year in the calculator below.
Houston County Property Search
ONLINE CALCULATORS: ESTIMATING TAX IMPACT
Residential Homestead Property
Commercial / Industrial Property
Agricultural Property
School Building Bond Agricultural Credit
This property tax credit originally took effect with property taxes payable in 2018. For taxes payable in 2021, the credit reduces taxes for owners of agricultural property in an amount equivalent to 55% of the taxes attributable to school district debt service for all agricultural property, except for the house, garage, and one acre. This credit is directly deducted from property taxes owed and applies to debt service levies for all types of existing and future bonds for construction and renovation projects. For taxes payable in 2018 and 2019, the credit was equivalent to 40%. The State is phasing in an increase to the credit: it was 50% for taxes payable in 2020, and it will be 55% for taxes payable in 2021, 60% for taxes payable in 2022, and for taxes payable 2023 and later the credit will be 70%. The credit is paid through an open and standing appropriation, which means that no action by the Legislature is required each year for this credit to be paid from the state general fund. The credit is automatically deducted on the tax statement and is included in the tax impact estimates provided by Ehlers.
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, question 1.
There are certain Minnesota Tax Credits and Deferrals that may affect certain property 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