Cost & Tax Impact
New Support for Students.
Lower School Property Taxes for Homeowners and Businesses.
Pequot Lakes Public Schools is committed to investing in students in a way that is responsible, practical and mindful of taxpayers. The Patriot Vision operating levy is designed to do that.
If approved by voters this November, the operating levy would provide about $500,000 in new annual revenue to support students, staff, programs and day-to-day school needs.
At the same time, school-related property taxes would decrease for local home and business owners. Taxes on seasonal recreational property would remain unchanged.
Your individual tax impact will depend on the value of your property.
A median home valued at $400,000 will see an estimated tax decrease of about $72 per year, or about $6 per month.
Determine your tax impact with our easy-to-use tax calculator!
Why Taxes Would Decrease: Minnesota’s Seasonal Tax Base Replacement Aid (STBRA)
Thanks to a new state program, Pequot Lakes Public Schools now qualifies for state aid that covers about half the cost of a voter-approved operating levy. This program is designed to support districts like ours — with many seasonal recreational properties like cabins and vacation homes — by returning a portion of those tax dollars back to local schools.
Because of this new state funding, the school board has committed to reducing existing local levies if the referendum passes. Voter approval would provide new funding for our students while lowering school property taxes for district homeowners and businesses.
Why does the ballot mention a tax increase if school property taxes will actually go down? Here’s how it works:
If voters approve the Patriot Vision operating levy on the ballot this November…
STEP 1
The district qualifies for MN’s new Seasonal Tax Replacement Aid
STEP 2
The school board reduces the districts existing levies
STEP 3
School property taxes decrease for district homeowners & businesses
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The district receives $500K/year to support the day-to-day programs students rely on
If voters do not approve the Patriot Vision Operating Levy on the ballot this November . . . no changes, and existing school property taxes remain in place
If the referendum is approved by voters:
Our district would receive $500,000 in new annual revenue.
About 50% of the new levy would be paid by the state.
The school board would reduce existing levies, lowering school property taxes for homeowners and businesses.
Taxes on seasonal recreational property would not change.