Hearing on Brainerd School District proposed taxes set Tuesday

If Brainerd School District residents have a concern about the school portion of their 2004 proposed property taxes, they will have an opportunity to ask questions Tuesday.

The school district will have its truth in taxation hearing at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the district office at Mississippi Horizons. The hearing will be on the district's current budget and on the amount of property taxes the district is proposing to collect in 2004 to pay for the costs of the 2004-05 school year.

Brainerd Business Manager Steve Dickinson said the property market value in the school district went up 14.5 percent to about $2.69 billion and the school property taxes went up 10.57 percent.

Dickinson said the district is within its projected limits. However, he said state legislative changes this year caused the school property taxes to increase more than expected. He said 74 percent of the 2004 tax increase is because of the state and 26 percent of the increase is from local decisions.

Dickinson provided an example of a 2004 proposed tax statement. A Brainerd homeowner with a $135,400 market value home this year, who saw a market value increase in 2004 to $151,000, paid $322.04 in school taxes this year and will pay $366.35 next year, for a $44.31 increase.

Those who are unable to attend the public hearing and have a question about their school portion of property taxes may call Dickinson at 828-5320.