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and personal property tax statements are mailed out by March 31. One-half (1/2) of the taxes on <br />real property is due on or before May 15. The remainder is due on or before October 15. Real <br />property taxes not paid by their due date are assessed a penalty which, depending on the type of <br />property, increases from 2% to 4% on the day after the due date. In the case of the first installment <br />of real property taxes due May 15, the penalty increases to 4% or 8% on June 1. Thereafter, an <br />additional 1 % penalty shall accrue each month through October 1 of the collection year for unpaid <br />real property taxes. In the case of the second installment of real property taxes due October 15, the <br />penalty increases to 6% or 8% on November 1 and increases again to 8% or 12% on December 1. <br />Personal property taxes remaining unpaid on May 16 are deemed to be delinquent and a penalty of <br />8% attaches to the unpaid tax. However, personal property owned by a tax-exempt entity, but which <br />is treated as taxable by virtue of a lease agreement, is subject to the same delinquent property tax <br />penalties as real property. <br />On the first business day of January of the year following collection all delinquencies are subject to <br />an additional 2% penalty, and those delinquencies outstanding as of February 15 are filed for a tax <br />lien judgment with the district court. By March 20 the county auditor files a publication of legal <br />action and a mailing notice of action to delinquent parties. Those property interests not responding <br />to this notice have judgment entered for the amount of the delinquency and associated penalties. <br />The amount of the judgment is subject to a variable interest determined annually by the Department <br />of Revenue, and equal to the adjusted prime rate charged by banks, but in no event is the rate less <br />than 10% or more than 14%. <br />Property owners subject to a tax lien judgment generally have five years (5) in the case of all <br />property located outside of cities or in the case of residential homestead, agricultural homestead <br />and seasonal residential recreational property located within cities or three (3) years with respect to <br />other types of property to redeem the property. After expiration of the redemption period, <br />unredeemed properties are declared tax forfeit with title held in trust by the State of Minnesota for <br />the respective taxing districts. The county auditor, or equivalent thereof, then sells those properties <br />not claimed for a public purpose at auction. The net proceeds of the sale are first dedicated to the <br />satisfaction of outstanding special assessments on the parcel, with any remaining balance in most <br />cases being divided on the following basis: county - 40%; Township or city - 20%; and school <br />district - 40%. <br />Property Tax Credits (Chapter 273, Minnesota Statutes) <br />In addition to adjusting the taxable value for various property types, primary elements of Minnesota's <br />property tax relief system are: property tax levy reduction aids; the renter's credit, which relates <br />property taxes to income and provides relief on a sliding income scale; and targeted tax relief, which <br />is aimed primarily at easing the effect of significant tax increases. The circuit breaker credit and <br />targeted credits are reimbursed to the taxpayer upon application by the taxpayer. Property tax levy <br />reduction aid includes educational aids, local governmental aid, equalization aid, county program <br />aid and disparity reduction aid. <br />Debt Limitations <br />All Minnesota municipalities (county, cities, townships and school districts) are subject to statutory <br />"net debt" limitations under the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 475.53. Net debt is <br />defined as the amount remaining after deducting from gross debt the amount of current revenues <br />which are applicable within the current fiscal year to the payment of any debt and the aggregation of <br />the principal of the following: <br />1. Obligations issued for improvements which are payable wholly or partially from the <br />proceeds of special assessments levied upon benefited property. <br />61 <br />