With property values increasing and new home construction on the rise, the tax base in Sherburne County is as strong as it’s been in a long time.

 

Even though some jurisdictions have increased their tax levy slightly, growth and higher property values have helped keep tax rates down.

 

In November, the county auditor/treasurer’s department released a list of proposed tax rates for 2019. Of 25 taxing authorities, including seven school districts, only five are showing higher tax rates for 2019.

 

The county’s proposed tax rate for 2019 is falling from 49.356% to 47.639%. And the Regional Rail levy was eliminated when the county implemented the local option transportation sales tax this year. Last year’s rail levy was 1.501%.

 

The City of Big Lake has one of the biggest rate reductions proposed - from 55.643% to 50.824%.

 

Clear Lake City, which has the highest tax rate in the county, also has a big cut proposed - from 84.330% to 79.520%.

 

The City of Becker’s 2019 tax rate is expected to decrease from 38.925% to 37.936%.

 

Becker Twp. is reducing its rate from 17.918% to 17.099%.

 

Clear Lake Twp. is also cutting its rate from 20.851% to 19.375%.

 

Orrock Twp. expects a slight decrease from 27.609% to 26.913%, as does Palmer Twp.  -18.778% to 17.795% and Santiago Twp.  - 20.102% to 19.202%.

 

Big Lake Twp. is one of the jurisdictions with a proposed rate hike - from 19.797% to 20.624%. The others are Haven Twp. (15.941% to 17.180%), Blue Hill Twp. (14.946% to 18.139%) and East St. Cloud (48.195% to 50.358%).

 

The remaining five jurisdictions have proposed tax rate decreases: Baldwin Twp. - 24.405% to 21.175%; Livonia Twp. - 24.674% to 21.961%; Elk River 46.011% to 45.467%; Princeton - 71.907% to 70.317% and Zimmerman - 45.656% to 44.411%.

 

Six of seven school districts will also have lower tax rates in 2019: Dist. 51 Foley (49.753% to 30.154%); Dist. 477 Princeton  (31.746%% to 30.284%); Dist. 726 Becker (22.683% to 21.845%); Dist. 727 Big Lake (42.994% to 42.560%); Dist. 728 Elk River (36.137% to 32.716%) and Dist. 742 St. Cloud (28.967% to 27.790%).

Dist. 882 in Monticello will see an increase from 15.621% to 16.965%.

 

Actual taxes assessed will depend on market value and any other local taxing authorities. Those will be listed on tax statements, which were mailed out in November.