Posted: 9/16/04
Possible for taxes in Mille Lacs to drop
Property owners in Mille Lacs County will be happy to hear the county's proposed tax levy increase for 2005 is less than the previous two years and just slightly higher than in 2002. Residents may even see a slight reduction in property taxes in 2005.
The county board approved the 2005 budget and a levy increase of $857,578 (8.05 percent). The levy amount is $11,512, 446.
In prior years the county's levy increase has ranged from 9.53 percent in 2002 to 13.65 percent in 2003. Last year's tax levy was an increase of 9.69 percent.
Where does the money go?
The 2005 budget shows $24,060,925 in expenses.
About 45 percent of the money is appropriated to the general fund ($10,755,554).
The general fund includes equipment requests and new staff requests.
The levy also includes debt services for county offices and the jail, expansion of medium and maximum jail space, and capital equipment for the road and bridge fund. The debt service fund totals $869,488.
Under the general fund, public safety accounts for $5,870,890, which includes the sheriff's department, the jail and probation department.
Public health, which includes the WIC program, community health services and maternal child health services, accounts for $664,053.
The East Central Regional Library receives $200,682 and general administration accounts for $4,019,929.
The next largest piece of the pie goes to the family services and welfare fund ($7,220,947), which saw a decrease of $385,847 in the welfare department due to reductions in out-of-home placement costs.
The total budget for the road and bridge fund is $5,414,936, which includes county road improvements ($601,296) and equipment requests ($700,000).
Revenues and state aid make up the difference of what the county's anticipated expenses are ($24,060,925) and the amount of the levy ($11,512,446).
What will it cost
residents?
County Auditor/Treasurer Phil Thompson provided an estimated breakdown for properties valued between $100,000 and $250,000.
Assuming the residential property valuation does not change between 2004 and 2005, the following are estimated reductions:
For example, a $100,000 residential home with a $1,000 tax capacity value would see a reduction of $63.
A $150,000 home would see a reduction of $94, a $200,000 home would see a reduction of $126 and a $250,000 home would see a reduction of approximately $157.
However, Thompson points out that those figures are based on no increase in the individual parcel's market values.
In reality, Thompson says, residents are likely to see about half of the above reduced amounts because the county's total value increase is made up of both new property and valuation increases on existing properties.
Princeton Union-Eagle
P.O. Box 278
Princeton, MN 55371
Telephone: 763-389-1222
Fax: 763-389-1728