Laserfiche WebLink
House Research Department Updated: September 2008 <br />Special Assessments Page 14 <br /> <br /> <br />Service charges/unpaid charges. A property taxpayer may pay the local government <br />for service charges before the local government certifies to the county auditor the <br />amounts that are to be collected through the property tax collection process. As an <br />example, the city of St. Paul bills property owners for right-of-way maintenance and <br />storm sewer charges. Some property owners pay these amounts directly to the city. <br />However, if they don’t, the city includes them on their annual list to the county for <br />collection along with the property taxes.42 <br />• Tax-exempt property. <br />Unlike ad valorem property tax, special assessments are imposed on most tax-exempt <br />property, unless there is a statutory exception. The special assessment amounts on <br />these tax-exempt entities are often collected by the local government through a <br />separate billing since these entities are exempt from property taxes and, therefore, do <br />not receive a property tax statement and would not be included in the DOR abstract <br />amounts. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />42 The “Right-of-Way Maintenance Assessment” in St. Paul covers sweeping, flushing, patching, and chip <br />sealing streets and alleys; patching, blading, and placing crushed rock on unimproved right-of-way; street overlays; <br />litter pickup; ordinance enforcement; emergency services; snow plowing, salting, and sanding; snow removal; <br />tagging and towing; sidewalk maintenance and repair; boulevard tree maintenance and trimming. For 2007, the total <br />budgeted spending for the Right-of-Way Maintenance Assessment is $25.02 million, of which $18.27 million is paid <br />with special assessments and the remainder with city general funds. The assessments are on a per-foot basis within <br />six classes, each with two rates. Property owners are billed and may pay up front or pay along with their property <br />taxes. The storm sewer charges are treated in much the same way in St. Paul.