A large majority of property values across Sherburne County have increased over the past year, and growth continues to add more taxpayers to the tax rolls.

 

Because of that additional value and revenue, even though some jurisdictions have hiked their tax levy, most tax rates are projected to be lower in 2018. 

 

 A report released in November by the Sherburne County Auditor/Treasurer’s Dept. shows seven of 10 townships and six of seven cities in the county will have lower tax rates in 2018. 

 

The City of Big Lake’s rate will fall from 57.936% to 55.838%. And the tax rate in the city’s rural service district, which does not benefit from municipal services to the same degree as properties within the urban service district, will drop from 20.540% to 17.457%.

 

The City of Becker’s rate will fall slightly from 39.074% to 38.906%.

 

 The City of Clear Lake has the highest tax rate in the county, but it will drop from 85.284% to 83.547% in 2018.

 

The rate in Becker Twp. is decreasing from 18.573% to 17.879%, as is Big Lake Twp. (19.972% to 19.751%0, Orrock Twp. (29.701% to 27.586%) and Clear Lake Twp. (21.315% to 20.683).

 

Decreases are also projected for Blue Hill Twp. (16.810% to 14.922%), Livonia Twp. (26.573% to  24.648%) and Santiago Twp. (21.808% to  20.068%).

 

Baldwin Twp. is one of  three townships projecting an increase (20.201% to  20.474%), as are Haven Twp. (15.094% to 15.823%) and Palmer Twp. (17.378% to 18.734%).

 

Of the remaining cities, East St. Cloud will increase its tax rate from 47.753% to  48.106%, and Princeton, with the second highest rate in the county, will hike its tax from 73.901% to 74.306%. But taxes in its rural service district will fall from 24.734% to 24.706%.

 

Tax rates will fall in Elk River (46.193% to 46.190%) and Zimmerman (47.469% to 45.597%).

 

Overall taxes payable will also be affected by other rates, and most of those are also lower in 2018.

 

The county tax rate is falling from 50.460% to 49.923% along with the regional rail authority (1.656% to 1.499%).

 

School levies are also down, except Becker School Dist. 726, which is proposing an increase from 17.972% to 22.639%.

 

The rest are all decreases: Dist. 51 Foley (56.733% to 49.227%%); Dist. 477 Princeton  (32.717% to 31.682%); Dist. 727 Big Lake (44.224% to 42.895%); Dist. 728 Elk River (36.569% to 36.020%); Dist. 742 St. Cloud (30.506% to 28.895%) and Dist 882 Monticello (16.242% to 15.597%).