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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4C - Municipal Property Taxes CONSENT AGENDA #: 4 (C) PREPARED BY: RALPH TESCHNER FINANCE DIRECTOR SUBJECT: CONSIDER ORDINANCE 96-06 REPEALING PRIOR LAKE CITY CODE TITLE 1, CHAPTER 10 URBAN AND RURAL SERVICE TAX DISTRICTS FOR MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAXES DATE: MARCH 4, 1996 INTRODUCTION: BACKGROUND: DISCUSSION: This agenda item requests the City Council to repeal Title 1, Chapter 10 of the Prior Lake City Code which divides the city into Urban and Rural Service Tax Districts for purposes of municipal property taxes. The City Council approved Resolution 96-18 on February 20, 1996 which reclassified certain tax parcels from the Rural Service Tax District to the Urban Service Tax District for payable 1996 property taxes. At the conclusion of the discussion relating to this item, the City Council directed Staff to draft an ordinance which would repeal Title 1, Chapter 10 of the Prior Lake City Code. Also, Staff was to provide specific information with respect to number and size of the parcels within the existing Rural Service Tax Districts. It appears that the present ordinance provision of giving rural classified parcels a 30% tax reduction for the City share only of property taxes is outdated and unnecessarily repetitive. This property tax relief was granted some 25 years ago and since then the agricultural class rate for property taxes was established by the State of Minnesota which basically allows for a 50% reduction in land tax capacity valuation. The difference in property tax rates between residential and agricultural land are indicated below: Residential Class Rate Agricultural Class Rate 1 st $72,000 (M. V.) Over $72,000 (M.V.) (M.V. - Land Market Value) 1.000/0 2.00% 1st $115,000 (M.V.) 0.45% Over $115,000 (M.V.) 1.00% There are 67 parcels remaining within the Rural Service Tax District. Average size of these parcels is slightly more than 34 acres per PIN (property identification number) description. Eliminating such district distinction would seem to provide uniformity and a more equitable property tax distribution since the open land values are already taxed at a reduced property tax rate under the agricultural class rate. If it is the concensus of the City Council to repeal this section of the City Code, it would become effective beginning in 1997 and would not affect the property tax status of those rural service tax district properties for 1996. 16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E.. Prior Lake. Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQl'AL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER ALTERNATIVES: There are the following two options available to the Council. 1. Approve Ordinance 96-06 Repealing Prior Lake City Code Title 1, Chapter 10 Urban and Rural Service Tax Districts for Municipal Property Taxes. 2. Continue the ordinance in its current state. RECOMMENDATION: Staff would recommend Ordinance 96-06 be approved thereby repealing the existing urban/rural tax districts. Prior Lake and Shakopee are the only two cities within Scott County that have established rural and urban tax service districts and Shakopee is presently considering a similar repeal. In addition the Scott County Auditors' Office is not aware of this application within other counties in the seven county area. ACTION REQUIRED: REVIEWED BY: A96114. WRT CITY of PRIOR LAKE ORDINANCE NO. 96-06 AN ORDINANCE REPEALING PRIOR LAKE CITY CODE TITLE 1, CHAPTER 10 The City Council of the City of Prior Lake does hereby ordain: 1. The entire Chapter 10 under Title 1 of the Prior Lake City Code referencing Urban and Rural Service Districts for Municipal Property Taxes is hereby repealed. This ordinance shall become effective from and after its passage and publication. Passed by the City Council of the City of Prior Lake this _ day of 1996. ATTEST: City Manager Mayor Published in the Prior Lake American on the _day of , 1996 . A96()4. WRT o T