(The following is from Council Member Gary Schiff's Ninth Ward E-News email of March 18, 2008:)

Property tax assessments hit mailboxes this month

Minneapolis residents will receive property tax assessments in the mail this month.

If a property owner disagrees with a property value estimate, call to set up an appointment with the city’s assessor's office at (612) 673-2382 and set up an appointment to discuss the concerns with the assessor responsible for valuing the property. Other options for appeal include the Board of Appeal and Equalization, the County Board of Appeal and Equalization and Tax Courts. Appeals must be made at the City Board of Equalization before appealing to the County Board of Equalization. Appeals may be made to Minnesota Tax Court at any time. To learn more, click here.

Changes in the prior year’s market value can only be made by one of two methods. The first is abatement. The second is tax court appeals, to the Minnesota State Tax Court. Appeals may be made until April 30 of the year when the taxes are payable. Contact the Tax Court Clerk at (651) 296-2806 for a packet of information about Tax Court and the forms needed for filing.

Property tax dollars go to several different government entities. Minneapolis typically receives about 43%, Hennepin County receives 25% and the School District 28%. The remaining 4% is split between the Metro Mosquito Control, Metropolitan Council, Metro Transit, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority and the School Board referendum.

(You can find out how much the place you live in is "worth" and your options for appealing this value at the city website for property tax assessment.)

The role of taxes:

"Don't Tax Me Out", an article in Philly's The Defenestrator about how full market reassessment of homes can price people out of neighborhoods.