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Levy Limitations for Counties and Cities (Chapter 275) The 2008 Legislature enacted provisions to establish levy limitations for taxes levied for collection in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Basically, levy increases for cities over 2,500 population and for counties are limited to its levy aid base or levy limit base for collection in the prior year, (1) plus the lesser of 3.9 percent or the percentage growth in the implicit price deflator, (2) plus an adjustment for population increases and (3) plus increases in taxable market value due to new construction of certain class 3 property (commercial /industrial). Certain property tax levies are authorized outside of the new overall levy limitations ( "special levies "). Special levies can be made outside of levy limits for multiple purposes including, but not limited to, bonded indebtedness, certificates of indebtedness, tax or aid anticipation certificates of indebtedness, and to provide for the bonded indebtedness portion of payments made to another political subdivision of the State of Minnesota. In order to receive approval for any special levy claims outside of the overall levy limitation, requests for such special levies must be submitted to the Commissioner of Revenue by the date specified in the year in which the levy is to be made for collection in the following year. The Commissioner of Revenue has the authority to approve, reduce, or deny a special levy request. Final adjustments to all levies must be made by the Department of Revenue on or before December 10. (275.74) 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 that are payable wholly or partially from the proceeds of special assessments levied upon benefited property. 2. Warrants or orders having no definite or fixed maturity. 3. Obligations payable wholly from the income from revenue producing conveniences. 4. Obligations issued to create or maintain a permanent improvement revolving fund. 5. Obligations issued for the acquisition and betterment of public waterworks systems, and public lighting, heating or power systems, and any combination thereof, or for any other public convenience from which revenue is or may be derived. 6. Certain debt service loans and capital loans made to school districts. 7. Certain obligations to repay loans. 8. Obligations specifically excluded under the provisions of law authorizing their issuance. 9. Certain obligations to pay pension fund liabilities. 10. Debt service funds for the payment of principal and interest on obligations other than those described above. 11. Obligations issued to pay judgments against the municipality.