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Chisago County commissioners on December 6 voted 4-0,  with Commissioner Jim Swenson absent, to enact an approximately 3.3 percent levy hike for 2024.  This allows the county to collect $47.2 million in local revenues for the overall $87 million in projected budget expenses for next year.  The difference between the two is covered through grants, local government aid, targeted tax and program monies from outside of the property tax.

The percentage hike does not translate directly to individual properties, though.  There are special taxation  ‘districts’ that may be added to your bill that are outside of the 3.3 percent. The Lake Improvement District for example, which impacts parcels in the watershed of the Chisago Chain of Lakes, went up by 11.5 percent.  It is only paid by parcels in the LID.  The LID spent $327,520 in 2023 and will spend $365,330 in 2024.

The impact on your tax bill is very specific to each parcel.  

Citizens were advised there are numerous classifications of property and this affects the tax formula.  Seasonal, commercial, agricultural, residential homestead or non-homestead are just some of the designations.  The place to start if you question your property tax— is to talk with an assessor office staff member and make sure your property is in its correct category.  

And, Chisago County valuations are increasing but not as drastically as they have.  

Based on the real estate market, actual sales county valuations went up for 2023 to the tune of about an eight percent median hike, which is part of estimating taxable market value.  (The 2021 to 2022 jurisdictional increases ranged from 21 percent at the low end to 31 percent increase at the highest.)

Those attending last week’s tax presentation  expressed concerns with  growth in their valuation hiking tax to be paid.  

The “truth in taxation hearing” which is normally structured and input is timed, developed into more of a panel discussion. Questions were asked freely and responded to at-will in an exchange among commissioners, staff and citizens.  The hearing ran a little over two hours, and County Administrator Chase Burnham remarked that the informality was a welcome change of pace.   He said the county is required to hold this hearing to solicit citizen input and for citizens to challenge  spending.  He added it was “nice to have this conversation....we work for you (audience) and I am happy to explain why we did what we did (in crafting the budget.”  Burnham said every dollar the county spends is accounted for and if anybody needs detail the information is accessible.  

Among some concerns:

Residents called for reductions in staffing levels to cut the budget.  Chisago County is at one employee for every 15 residents (at full staffing in warm weather months.)

Residents said law enforcement needs to do their jobs using less-pricey vehicles and equipment.  Public Safety is now the largest piece of the budget “pie” surpassing previous needs for big ticket Health & Human Services and Road & Bridge.

Trails and recreation amenities are frivolous.

Commissioner Marlys Dunne assured the public the Board scrutinizes every line item, and personnel request, asking  “do we really need to fund this position?” 

Public safety is a priority because if people don’t feel safe here we have “squat.”  she said. 

Dunne stated she is “proud of the Board” for starting the budget development process at about an 11 percent increase, based on department requests, and getting it down to 3.3 percent took tough decisions and work.

Property tax statements go out in March and the first payment is due May 2024 with the second half in October

County Briefs...

Along with the lengthy truth in taxation public presentation at last week’s County Commissioners’ meeting, the Board also:

~ Approved the ditch levies for the 11 ditches the county is responsible for.  The ditch levy goes onto property tax statements for benefitting parcels that are along the ditch or served by the drainage capability.  

Ditch Five no longer has a levy collected.  Ditch One will need $572 in levy payments. Ditch Two will see a slight increase to $1,431, from $1,300 in 2023.

Ditch Three needs $2,862 in 2024, another small hike.  Ditch Four will see a levy of $1,431— also the same levy for Ditch Six and Ditch Eight.  Ditches 7 and 9 have a levy of $5,723 each. Ditches Ten and 14 are going to $2,862 from $2,602.

The two judicial ditches within the county do not have taxes levied anymore.

~ The commissioners heard the child support analysis done by the state annually placed Chisago County staff in fourth place of all 87 counties in Minnesota. The collections and efficiency demonstrated by the division’s data are exemplary.

~ Curbside recycling by household waste companies and special collection points for problem materials,  were approved as a list to qualify them for county subsidy.  The state has set a mandate for a county recycling rate of 35 percent of the estimated waste stream. 

Haulers who tip their loads at the regional landfill in Mora, MN qualify.  

Subsidies are $100 per ton of plastic bottles, $20 per ton of cardboard, and $40/ton for newspaper, steel cans, glass bottles and office paper.

Chisago County also uses a hauling tax distribution from the state (SCORE) towards supporting recycling expenses for appliances, mattresses, tires, electronics, underwriting the cost to accept the items.  SCORE funds were $167,259 in 2023.

The county contracts for recycling services with Steel Chicks, SRC, AAA Recycling, Evergreen, Recycling for Wildlife and a new company, Recyy located at the North Branch outlet mall.

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