06-08-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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III-2 The county treasurer is responsible for collecting all property taxes within the county. Real estate and personal property tax statements are mailed out by March 31. One-half (1/2) of the taxes on real property is due on or before May 15. The remainder is due on or before October 15. Real property taxes not paid by their due date are assessed a penalty on homestead property of 2% until May 31 and increased to 4% on June 1. The penalty on nonhomestead property is assessed at a rate of 4% until May 31 and increased to 8% on June 1. Thereafter, an additional 1% penalty shall accrue each month through October 1 of the collection year for unpaid real property taxes. In the case of the second installment of real property taxes due October 15, a penalty of 2% on homestead property and 4% on nonhomestead property is assessed. The penalty for homestead property increases to 6% on November 1 and again to 8% on December 1. The penalty for nonhomestead property increases to 8% on November 1 and again to 12% on December 1. Personal property taxes remaining unpaid on May 16 are deemed to be delinquent and a penalty of 8% attaches to the unpaid tax. However, personal property that is owned by a tax-exempt entity, but is treated as taxable by virtue of a lease agreement, is subject to the same delinquent property tax penalties as real property. On the first business day of January of the year following collection all delinquencies are subject to an additional 2% penalty, and those delinquencies outstanding as of February 15 are filed for a tax lien judgment with the district court. By March 20 the county auditor files a publication of legal action and a mailing of notice of action to delinquent parties. Those property interests not responding to this notice have judgment entered for the amount of the delinquency and associated penalties. The amount of the judgment is subject to a variable interest determined annually by the Department of Revenue, and equal to the adjusted prime rate charged by banks but in no event is the rate less than 10% or more than 14%. Property owners subject to a tax lien judgment generally have three years (3) to redeem the property. After expiration of the redemption period, unredeemed properties are declared tax forfeit with title held in trust by the State of Minnesota for the respective taxing districts. The county auditor, or equivalent thereof, then sells those properties not claimed for a public purpose at auction. The net proceeds of the sale are first dedicated to the satisfaction of outstanding special assessments on the parcel, with any remaining balance in most cases being divided on the following basis: county - 40%; town or city - 20%; and school district - 40%. Property Tax Credits (Chapter 273, Minnesota Statutes) In addition to adjusting the taxable value for various property types, primary elements of Minnesota's property tax relief system are: property tax levy reduction aids; the homestead credit refund and the renter’s property tax refund, which relate property taxes to income and provide relief on a sliding income scale; and targeted tax relief, which is aimed primarily at easing the effect of significant tax increases. The homestead credit refund, the renter’s property tax refund, and targeted credits are reimbursed to the taxpayer upon application by the taxpayer. Property tax levy reduction aid includes educational aids, local governmental aid, equalization aid, county program aid and disparity reduction aid. Debt Limitations All Minnesota municipalities (counties, cities, towns and school districts) are subject to statutory “net debt” limitations under the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 475.53. Net debt is defined as the amount remaining after deducting from gross debt the amount of current revenues that are applicable within the current fiscal year to the payment of any debt and the aggregate of the principal of the following: 1. Obligations issued for improvements which are payable wholly or partly from the proceeds of special assessments levied upon property specially benefited thereby, including those which are general obligations of the municipality issuing them, if the municipality is entitled to reimbursement in whole or in part from the proceeds of the special assessments.