This site provides information for taxpayers of West Central Area School District, regarding how the district’s proposed referendum questions 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 on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 seeking voter approval of two ballot questions.
QUESTION 1 proposes to renew its general education revenue of $1,551.00 per pupil which is scheduled to expire after taxes payable in 2024.
QUESTION 2 proposes a capital project levy authorization of 2.082% times the net tax capacity of the school district. The additional revenue from this authorization will be used to provide funds for school district technology, including the acquisition, installation, replacement, support and maintenance of software, software licenses, computers, improved technology equipment, networks, infrastructure, technology systems related to security and operations, and to pay the costs of technology related personnel and training.
For more information on how these funds would be used, return to the District’s website.
Impact on Property Taxes
The proposed referendum revenue authorization (QUESTION 1) would be applicable for ten years beginning with taxes payable in 2025, and increase each year by the rate of inflation beginning with taxes payable in 2026, unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.
The proposed capital project levy authorization (QUESTION 2) would begin with taxes payable in 2024 and would be applicable for 10 years. The authorization will raise approximately $300,000 for taxes payable in 2024 and the estimated total cost of the projects to be funded over the ten years is approximately $3,000,000.
To determine the estimated impact of the proposed questions on your taxes, follow the instructions below or view sample property types and values here.
NOTE: Agricultural property will pay taxes for the proposed operating 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 operating referendum.
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. You can review the current value for taxes payable in 2024 using this Notice of Valuation and Classification, contact your county and ask for the 2023 EMV for taxes payable in 2024 or follow the instructions below to look up your 2024 EMV on your county’s website.
Grant County
Property Tax Information - (218) 685-8232
Click on the link below, select “I ACCEPT” on the disclaimer pop-up (must allow pop-ups to see this screen) and click “Proceed”. Enter in your search criteria. Select to view the “2023 Value for Tax Payable 2024” breakdown of your parcel. Click on the “Value Information” tab and use the left-most value listed as “Total MKT” in the calculator below.
Douglas County
Property Tax Information - (320) 762-3884
Click on the link below, select “I ACCEPT” on the disclaimer pop-up (must allow pop-ups to see this screen) and click “Proceed”. Enter in your search criteria. Select to view the “2023 Value for Tax Payable 2024” breakdown of your parcel. Click on the “Value Information” tab and use the left-most value listed as “Total MKT” in the calculator below.
Otter Tail County
Property Tax Information - (218) 998-8010
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.
Pope County
Property Tax Information - (320) 634-7715
Click on the link below and click to continue on the disclaimer page. In the top tool bar, click the down arrow next to the binoculars “Search” button to select how you want to search for your parcel. Enter your search criteria, click “run search” and select your parcel from the list below the map. A pop up with your parcel information will pop up on screen. Click the down arrow in “Available Reports”, select “Parcel Report” and click “Go”. From the parcel report, use the “Total” value listed as “Estimated Market Value” in the calculator below.
Stevens County
Property Tax Information - (320) 208-6550
Click on the link below, select “I ACCEPT” on the disclaimer pop-up (must allow pop-ups to see this screen) and click “Proceed”. Enter in your search criteria. Select to view the “2023 Value for Tax Payable 2024” breakdown of your parcel. Click on the “Value Information” tab and use the left-most value listed as “Total MKT” 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. If you own a resort, do not use this calculator, instead use the submission form below.
Agricultural & Other Types of Property
If you own agricultural or other types of property (timber or ma and pa resort), 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 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 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
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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.
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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.