Understanding Your Truth-N-Taxation Statement
Randy R. Schreifels
Stearns County Auditor/Treasurer
Truth and Taxation Statements are mailed to all property owners in November. View your Truth-n-Taxation statement online.
Section A: Identifies your Parcel Id Number (PIN) and a abbreviated form of the legal description for your property. A complete legal description is located on your deed.
Section B: Identifies your Property Classification (Residential Homestead, Seasonal, etc.)
Section C: Identifies your taxable market value for 2011 and 2012. The 2012 taxable market value on homestead properties will differ due to various programs like the Homestead Market Value Exclusion, the Disabled Veterans Homestead Market Value Exclusion, Green Acres, Rural Preserve, "This Old House" and plat deferral. This value is the estimated market value less any exclusion, deferral, limitation, or restriction.
Section D: Identifies the Actual 2011 Property Tax in Column 1 and the Proposed 2012 Property Tax in Column 2.
Section E: Identifies levies by jurisdiction for 2011 and proposed for 2012.
County - Stearns County: County levy.
City or Township - Levy for city or township in which you live.
State General Tax - Does not apply to all properties. This only applies to Commercial and Season properties.
School District - This section will identify what school district your property is located and if there is a pending referendum at the November election. If there is a pending referendum this amount is not included in the proposed 2012 total.
Voter Approved Levies - These amounts reflect past school voter approved levies
Other Local Levies - School levies not required to be approved by voters
Special Taxing Districts - This amount includes Housing and Redevelopment Districts (HRA), Regional Rail Authority, Watershed Districts, Hospital Districts, etc.
Tax Increment Tax - This amount is only for property located in a Tax Increment Taxing District, also known as (TIF).
The bottom portion of the Truth and Taxation Statement provides the Budget and Tax hearings for each of the jurisdiction along with the mailing addresses and telephone numbers for each. These hearings are for the budget and levy each entity proposes to adopt and is not a hearing on the valuation of your property.