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CITY OF LAKE ELMO, MINNESOTA NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2024 46 NOTE 1 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) 1.G. REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND EXPENSES (Continued) The City certifies its levy to the County each year in December, for collection the following year. The County creates the tax list for all taxable property in the City and applies the applicable tax rate to the tax capacity of individual properties to arrive at the actual tax for each property. The County also collects all special assessments, except for certain prepaym ents paid directly to the City. The County collects all taxes and assessments, except as noted above. The County mails copies of all real estate and personal property tax statements. Each year, property owners are required to pay one half of their real estate taxes by May 15 and the balance by October 15. Penalties and interest are assessed to property owners who do not pay their property taxes and special assessments by the due dates. Delinquent taxes receivable include the past six years’ uncollected taxes. Delinquent taxes have been offset by deferred inflows of resources for taxes not received within 60 days after year end in the fund financial statements. Special Assessments Special assessments are levied against benefited properties for the cost or a portion of the cost of special assessment improvement projects in accordance with State Statutes. These assessments are collectible by the City over a term of years usually consistent with the term of the related bond issue. Collection of annual installments (including interest) is handled by the County Auditor in the same manner as property taxes. Property owners are allowed to (and often do) prepay future installments without interest or prepayment penalties. Once a special assessment roll is adopted, the amount attributed to each parcel is a lien upon that property until full payment is made or the amount is determined to be excessive by the City Council or court action. If special assessments are allowed to g o delinquent, the property is subject to tax forfeit sale and the first proceeds of that sale (after costs, penalties, and expe nses of sale) are remitted to the City in payment of delinquent special assessments. Generally, the City will collect the full am ount of its special assessments not adjusted by City Council or court action. Pursuant to State Statutes, a property shall be subject to a tax forfeit sale after three years unless it is homesteaded, agricultural or seasonal recreational land in which event the pr operty is subject to such sale after five years. Within the government-wide financial statements, the City recognizes special assessment revenue in the period that the assessment roll was adopted by the City Council. Uncollectible special assessments are not material and have not been reporte d. Within the fund financial statements, the revenue from special assessments is recognized by the City when it becomes measurable and available to finance expenditures of the current fiscal period. In practice, current and delinquent special assessments received by the City are recognized as revenue for the current year. Special assessments are collected by the County and remitted by December 31 (remitted to the City the following January) and are also recognized as revenue for the current year. All remaining delinquent, deferred, and special deferred assessments receivable in governmental funds are completely offset by deferred inflows of resources. Program Revenues Program revenues reported in the government-wide financial statements include (1) charges to customers or applicants who purchase, use, or directly benefit from goods, services, or privileges provided or fines imposed by a given function or segment, and (2) grants and contributions (including special assessments) that are restricted to meeting the operational or capital requirements of a particular function or segment. All taxes, including those dedicated for specific purposes, and other internally dedicated resources are reported as general revenues rather than as program revenues. Operating Revenues and Expenses Operating revenues and expenses for proprietary funds are those that result from providing services and producing and delivering goods and/or services. It also includes all revenue and expenses not related to capital and noncapital financing or investing activities.