Homeowners throughout Otter Tail County will know very soon what their property taxes will amount to in 2021. In fact, preliminary estimates sent to homeowners recently provide a pretty good indication of what they will be.
Property taxes are paid in installments, twice each year. County government, school boards and city councils will, this month, be finalizing 2021 budgets and 2021 property taxes.
Later on, after the first of the year, county residents will receive combined first half property tax statements and second half property tax statements. Each statement will include taxes for county government, public schools and cities or townships.
The county truth in taxation meeting, when the county board will review the proposed 2021 budget and levy, will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the county Government Services Center at 500 Fir Ave. W. in Fergus Falls.
Otter Tail County residents can comment on the proposed levy during the public hearing on Dec. 9.
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School boards and city councils throughout Otter Tail County will also finalize budgets and taxes this month.
Included in the county budget for 2021 are county taxpayer funds for community services (public health, human services, probation, veterans’ services and county extension), public works (highways, land and resource management and solid waste), law enforcement (including sheriff office), and internal services (administration, human resources, facilities operations, information technology, geographic information systems, emergency management and economic development).
The entire preliminary budget for 2021 is $125 million.
County Auditor-Treasurer Wayne Stein said less than half that amount is the responsibility of county residents. The additional needed funding comes from the state and federal governments for budget items such as county road maintenance and county human services.
