Committee forwards deferred-assessment threshold change to full council

The Personnel & Finance Committee voted on Nov. 17 to forward a staff-drafted resolution changing the threshold used to determine eligibility for deferred property-assessments.

Staff explained the proposed change would use the median assessed value for homesteads within Crow Wing County as the eligibility threshold for deferment for Brainerd City applicants; staff said that figure would be updated biannually on even-year cycles. Staff said the county median is preferable to the U.S. Census-derived figure previously referenced.

"Staff is proposing we use the estimated market value of the applicant's homestead be less than the assessment median homestead value for Crow Wing County for homesteads within the city of Brainerd, and this will be updated biannually on even pay years," the finance director said.

Councilmember Kelly Babbitt moved to send the resolution to the full council for adoption and congratulated staff on the work; the committee seconded the motion and voted aye. The committee did not make substantive edits to the resolution at the meeting.

The forwarded resolution will be considered by the full council for formal adoption. The committee record references staff review of prior applications and use of U.S. Census Bureau data in earlier reviews.