What are the general assessment policies?
Minnesota State Law, Chapter 429.01 to 429.111 provides that a municipality has the power to make public improvements such as sanitary sewers, storm sewers, water source and distribution facilities, street improvements including grading, curb and gutter, surfacing, sidewalks, street lighting, etc.
The Statute further provides that the cost of any improvement may be assessed upon properties benefited by the improvement based upon benefits received. It also defines the petition process for improvements, the assessment procedure and the assessment appeal process.
The total cost of a public improvement includes the following:
Contract cost plus 15 percent Engineering, 2 percent Administration, 1 percent Legal, 1 percent assessment rolls, 1 percent bonding, plus right-of-way costs (fee acquisition and/or easement costs plus staff time) and temporary funding charges, plus assessable charges from other governmental agencies (i.e. Metropolitan Council Environmental Services, Hennepin County, State of Minnesota), plus any assessable costs previously incurred by the city.
The assessment period for all public improvements shall be 15 years at the current interest rate established by the Finance Department. A shorter assessment period may be considered if the assessable amounts involved are less than $1000.00 per property or if the expected life of the improvement is less than 15 years.
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What is an assessment unit?
A lot is defined as a platted single family residential lot or equivalent which, according to Brooklyn Park subdivision requirements, cannot be reasonably subdivided.
The method of deriving lot units on a equivalent basis is to calculate the gross area of the properties. The gross area is determined by taking the frontage in linear feet and multiplying by a depth of 165 feet measured from the street centerline. This gross acreage is then divided by 0.36 acres or .42 acres (equivalent lot unit areas) and the resultant provides equivalent lot units for each parcel.
There shall be a deduction of one-half unit on platted corner lots where both streets are not being improved. Lots fronting two streets shall not be doubly assessed.
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What is the cutoff date for paying special assessments?
New Assessments
Property owners may prepay the entire assessment with no interest charges within a 30 day period following the date the City Council adopts the assessment roll.
If the property owners do not pay within the 30 day period, but pay the assessments on or before November 29, interest will be charged to December 31.
If the property owner does not pay the assessment in full on or before November 29, the assessed amount will be spread over the assessment period. This amount will be certified to Hennepin County to be extended on the tax list, which amount will then appear on your tax statement.
Existing Assessments
Payment of the remaining balance may be made if paid on or before November 14 of a given year within the assessment period. Full payment of the balance will then remove the assessment amount from the following year's tax statement.
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How can I order a special assessment search and how much will it cost?
A search may be ordered by mail or picked up at Brooklyn Park City Hall. There is a $12 charge per parcel for each special assessment search, payable in advance.
I live on a corner lot, do I get assessed twice?
A corner lot would only be assessed one lot unit for benefiting improvements on both streets or a half lot unit for benefiting improvements for each street. However, if the corner lot can reasonably be further subdivided, according to current Brooklyn Park subdivision requirements, there would then be additional costs levied for an additional lot unit or lot units that may be created.
What is the city's policy for assessing street reconstruction projects?
All residential streets currently consisting of gravel or bituminous surface without concrete curb and gutter with a minimum of 51 percent of the abutting properties developed with city utilities shall be assessed an amount not to exceed 70 percent of the cost to reconstruct a typical residential street including street demolition, re-grading, construction of gravel base, curb and gutter, bituminous base and wearing course construction and restoration.
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How will I know when the final assessment amounts will be available?
Two weeks prior to the assessment hearing, an assessment hearing notice will be sent to the benefiting property owners. The notice will state the date, time and place of the assessment hearing, general nature of the improvement, the area proposed to be assessed, the total amount of the proposed assessment for the improvement and the proposed assessment against each lot or parcel of land.
What has to be done to have the assessments placed on my tax statement?
Prior to November 30 of the year in which the assessment was levied, the City is required to send a certified copy of the assessment roll to Hennepin County. The assessed amounts will then appear on your tax statement.
However, you may want to notify your mortgage company there are levied assessments so the mortgage company can adjust your monthly payment, accordingly.
Will I save any interest if I pay my assessments before the second half of my taxes are due?
No, the interest that appears on your tax statement is calculated for that given year and is current to Nov. 14 of the same year.
What is the Senior Citizen Deferral and how would I qualify?
The Senior Citizen Deferral is available to persons 65 years of age or retired by virtue of total permanent disability who reside on and own homestead property in the City of Brooklyn Park.
The applicant should be aware the interest on the assessments accrues and would have to be paid current at such time as the parcel is sold or upon the death of the applicant.
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Contact Engineering:
Mailing Address:
5200 85th Ave N
Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
Phone: 763-493-8100
Email Engineering
