With tax capacities increasing across the county, the Sherburne County property tax rate is falling this year.
A report from the auditor/treasurer in April shows the countywide net tax capacity increased from $85,016,954 in 2016 to $88,154,298 this year. In addition to the average home having a higher value, new home construction is adding to the pool of taxes.
Because of that, the county tax rate is dropping for the third straight year. The rate in 2014 was 54.861%. It decreased to 51.979% in 2015, 50.478% in 2016 and 50.460% this year.
Local tax capacities have also increased, but tax rates for individual cities and townships will see some increases and decreases. In order to meet an increased budget, five of the seven cities will hike their rates this year.
The cities of Big Lake, Becker, Clear Lake, Elk River and East St. Cloud will all have higher tax rates in 2017.
Becker’s rate will see an increase from 35.701% to 39.074%.
Big Lake’s rate is going up from 57.112% to 57.936%.
Clear Lake, with the highest tax rate in the county, will increase from 82.522% to 85.284%.
Only Zimmerman (49.933% to 47.467%) and Princeton (76.963% to 73.901%) will have lower tax rates this year.
In the townships, three of 10 have increases this year. Orrock Twp. is up from 25.916% to 29.701%, and Baldwin Twp. in increasing its rate from 19.774% to 20.201%.
Becker Township’s rate is falling from 18.958% to 18.573%.
The tax rate in Big Lake Twp. will drop from 19.004% to 17.972%, except for areas in the Elk River Fire District. That rate will see a slight increase from 17.553% to 17.599%.
The six remaining townships have set the following tax rate cuts: Blue Hill - 17.948% to 16.810%; Clear Lake - 21.362% to 21.315%; Haven - 15.250% to 15.094%; Livonia - 27.124% to 26.573%; Palmer - 17.444% to 17.376% and Santiago - 22.428% to 21.808%.
Total taxes paid will depend on the local rate, the county’s tax rate, the Regional Rail Authority rate (1.656%), fire district tax rates and school district tax rates.
Six of seven school districts have lowered their rates for 2017:
Dist. 51 Foley (58.252% to 56.733%); Dist. 477 Princeton (36.330% to 32.717%); Dist. 726 Becker (25.067% to 23.222%); Dist. 727 Big Lake (44.247% to 44.224%); Dist. 728 Elk River (39.268% to 36.659%) and Dist. 882 Monticello (20.857% to 16.242%). Dist. 742 in St. Cloud will see an increase from 23.688% to 30.506%.
