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a homestead application with Washington County on or before Dec. <br />31, 2025. <br />Homestead classification affects the 2026 property tax, and it may <br />also affect eligibility for a property tax refund. <br />Property owners or qualifying relatives should apply by Dec. 31 if: <br />• They purchased a property in the past year and occupy the property <br />as their primary residence; or <br />• They occupy a property as their primary residence as of Dec. 31, <br />never updated the homestead in their name, or the property was <br />previously classified as non-homestead. <br />Who is a qualifying relative? <br />Qualifying relatives for residential and agricultural properties with a <br />house include a parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, brother, <br />sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of the owner, or the owner's <br />spouse. For unoccupied agricultural property, a qualifying relative is <br />a parent, child, grandchild, or sibling of the owner or the owner's <br />spouse. <br />Once granted the homestead classification, no further applications <br />are necessary unless they are specifically requested by the county. <br />If a property owner sells, moves, or no longer qualifies for <br />homestead classification, they must notify the county within 30 days <br />of the change. Failure to notify may result in the property being taxed <br />as non-homestead. <br />How to apply: <br />Property owners can apply online at <br />WashingtonCountyMN.gov/Homestead. <br />For more information, call Washington County Assessment Support <br />at 651-430-6175 (option 4). Homestead | Washington County, MN - <br />Official Website <br />DNR Urges Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers to <br />Prioritize Kids' Safety Around Cold Water <br />As temperatures fall and ice begins forming on ponds, small lakes, <br />and other waterways across the state, the Minnesota Department of <br />Natural Resources reminds parents and guardians to talk with their <br />kids about the importance of safety on the ice and around the water. <br />It’s especially important given that many children are home over <br />Thanksgiving break. <br />Falling into the water this time of year, whether through thin ice or <br />into open water, can turn tragic quickly. It can incapacitate even the <br />strongest swimmers, so it’s up to parents and guardians to teach <br />their kids about the dangers of cold water and to ensure they’re <br />properly supervised whenever they’re around water. <br />Already this season, a DNR conservation officer and other rescue <br />personnel saved two teenagers who fell through thin ice in northern <br />Minnesota. "Kids tend to be curious about the water, but they might <br />not understand the dangers,” said Capt. Adam Block, boating law <br />administrator for the DNR. “Every type of waterway can be <br />dangerous this time of year, from small neighborhood ponds all the <br />way to our largest lakes and rivers.” <br />Wearing a foam-filled life jacket is the best way to stay safe around <br />cold water or survive an unexpected fall in. Foam is better than <br />inflatable life jackets this time of year, since the latter might not fully <br />inflate in cold water. In addition, Block recommends people carry a <br />phone in case they need to call for help, let others know where <br />they’re going and when they plan to return, and plan for how to deal <br />with an unforeseen incident. <br />For more information about surviving a fall into cold water, visit the <br />DNR cold water dangers webpage. <br />Be a Battery Hero This Holiday Season <br />‘Tis the season for twinkly lights, new gadgets, remote-controlled