Some property tax guides

Pioneer Press: 11/15/07: Editors: PROPERTY TAXES, EXPLAINED, PART II

Pioneer Press:

Just in time for the season, the Citizens League and the Minnesota Taxpayer Association are knocking with more sober explanations of property taxes.

The Minnesota Taxpayers Association (not to be confused with the Taxpayers League of Minnesota) has released an updated version of its booklet called "Understanding Your Property Taxes." The nonpartisan, nonprofit association says the updated booklet "is designed to help taxpayers get involved in their local government budgeting process."

The booklet is available on the Taxpayers Association Web site at www.mntax.org/ cpfr/uypt.php. "Our goal with this booklet is to improve public policy by combining the good judgment of Minnesotans with a better understanding of how their taxes are determined," Lynn Reed of the Taxpayers Association said in a press release.

The booklet may be useful as taxpayers prepare for local budget hearings scheduled in coming weeks. "The combination of foreclosures and associated sub-prime mortgage problems, aid to cities and counties below historical levels, and the passage of many school referendum levies means that property taxes are on nearly everyone's mind," Reed's release said.

The booklet contains comparative spending data for cities and counties and "how-to" suggestions about monitoring tax and budget hearings, appealing property assessments and how to read the "truth-in-taxation" notice that comes out this month.

The Citizens League (www.citizens league.org), meanwhile, an independent, nonpartisan "good government" organization based in St. Paul, has expanded its annual study of homeowner property taxes and also examines school levies and special assessments.

In a series of tables, the Citizens League compares property taxes on average-valued homes in comparable communities and property taxes by level of government in comparable communities.

There's also other helpful tax-related information.