Property owners can breathe a sigh of relief, though.
The increase is being absorbed on the county’s portion of the property tax bill by an estimated 5% increase in the number of taxed properties.
“The board was clear that minimizing and reducing tax impacts was one of our goals,” County Administrator Kevin Gray said. “It’s important and good news that our tax base continues to grow — the more people that pay for the cost of services … the less impact there is for everybody.”
An increased property tax base means the total levy amount is divided among more people, a county news release explained.
For example, on average, the owner of a home valued at $150,000 would see a decrease of just under $34; and the owner of a home valued at $200,000 would pay approximately $45 less next year.
So far this year, despite the onslaught of a COVID-19 pandemic that has shuttered or slowed business in some sectors and left some property managers without rents, 98% of taxpayers have followed through with first-half property tax payments.
“We’re fortunate,” Gray said. “Our taxpayers have been very committed to paying their property taxes. It’s a positive reflection on their commitment to the county and supporting county government and its services.”
The second-half deadline is Oct. 15. An extension, like the two months afforded by the County Board last spring, is not on the table at the moment.
“We’re in a little bit of a different time, five-six months later,” Gray said. “There’s a little bit less trepidation.”
New construction in residential homes, recreational cabins and lake homes, and commercial construction were responsible for the growth in the tax base.
"These are all important factors that help offset the costs," Gray said.
In a conversation with the News Tribune, Gray outlined where the money was going. For starters, it will fund a $60 million road and bridge improvement program next year also supplemented by a record $16.2 million in transportation sales tax revenue.
“We’re committed to making the right fix at the right time when it comes to our roads,” Gray said.
The administrator highlighted continued support for vulnerable adults and children, and mental health and substance abuse programming.
Further services funded include law enforcement, permitting and county offices, snow-plowing and road maintenance, and even the future COVID-19 response. There’s also wages and costs associated with roughly 1,800 county employees.
Gray spoke of “cost pressures” brought on by COVID-19, forcing the county to be guarded. It’s holding employee vacancies open longer and aggressively modifying training online to cut down on travel costs. Fortunately, past investments in things like new energy efficient buildings have stabilized costs.
“All of those things have helped us manage our budget,” Gray said.
Board Chair Mike Jugovich addressed COVID-19 and the levy increase Sept. 8 in Duluth during the committee of the whole meeting, in which the levy passed unanimously.
“Every year we are careful with how we balance the need for services with the cost of providing them,” Jugovich said. “But this year more than ever, we know people in our county are hurting because of the economic impacts of the pandemic, and we are doing all we can to lessen the tax impact on them while continuing to provide the service level our citizens expect and deserve.”
Gray praised the auditor’s office, and said the county features a strong balance sheet and reserves “to help navigate during these more tenuous fiscal times.”
Minnesota counties are required by law to set their maximum property tax levy — that portion of the budget collected through property taxes — by the end of September. As the County Board and staff work to finalize the 2021 budget over the next few months, the levy amount may be reduced, but it cannot increase. Commissioners will vote on the final capital and operating budget Dec. 15.
Two meetings have been set to collect public input on the levy and budget: Nov. 23 at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Virginia and Nov. 30 at the Government Services Center in Duluth. Both meetings will start at 7 p.m.
Any details on how people may be able to participate remotely will be announced closer to the meeting dates, the county said. Citizens may provide input at any County Board meeting or by contacting commissioners directly. Contact information and news about the levy can be found at stlouiscountymn.gov/countyboard.
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September 18, 2020 at 10:00PM
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St. Louis County's proposed levy a story of growth, less tax impact - Duluth News Tribune
"impact" - Google News
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