JanFeb

neighborhood is making up for that now,
with gains in value that are among the
highest in the city. The median estimated
value (half higher, half lower) for a
Frogtown home in 201 9 was $1 29,900; in
2020 it is $1 54,1 00.
If you own that median value home,
you’re on the hook for about $2,300 in
property tax, up from $1 ,870 in 201 9 —
about $430 more. So what can you do
besides complain?
FROGTOWN NEWS
Cash-strapped seniors can cut property
taxes by applying to the Senior Citizens
Property Tax Deferral program. If you’re
65 or older and have a household income
of $60,000 or less, you can defer a
portion of the tax on your homesteaded
property. You pay three percent of your
previous year’s household income. At the
$37,000 median household income, that’s
$1 ,11 0. With a tax bill of $2,300, you can
defer $1 ,1 90. The deferred tax is payable,
with interest that cannot exceed five
percent, when you or your heirs sell the
house.
There are savings out there for renters,
too. If your household income is less than
$61 ,320, you can claim a refund of up to
$2,1 50, depending on your actual income
and the amount of property tax paid on
your unit. Get a Certificate of Rent Paid
from your landlord, who is required to
provide you with one by January 31 , and
file for the refund before August 1 5, 2020.
THIS OLD FROGTOWN HOUSE:
Ramsey County valued it at $11 4,900 in
201 8, $1 57,700 for 2020. Taxes will go
from $1 ,473 to about $2,400.
Rising Values Add to
Tax Bite; Refunds,
Deferrals Ease Pain
If you own a Frogtown home, the good
news is that after years of declining or
stagnant value, your house is worth more
this year than it was last year. The related
bad news is that increased value, plus a
higher rate of city and county taxes,
means that you’ll be writing a bigger
check for property taxes again this year.
After the 2008 housing bust, Frogtown
home prices stayed in the cellar long after
other parts of the city had recovered. Our
One good move is to remember to file
your Minnesota Property Tax Credit form
if your income is less than $11 3,1 50. The
refund amount varies with income; the
less you make, the more you get back.
Say you have a household income equal
to the Frogtown median of $37,000.
You’ll get a refund of about $790 on your
$1 54,1 00 home.
You qualify for an extra refund if your
property tax increased by more than 1 2
percent compared to last year, and if the
increase was at least $1 00. No problem
with that $1 54,1 00 home, where the
property tax increase is 21 .5 percent.
Count on about another $350 refund
because of this big tax jump. Combined,
your credits will get you refunds of about
$1 ,1 40. So that $2,300 tax bill looks a lot
more like $1 ,1 60 by the time everything
is said and done.
Nobody loves taxes, but you’re paying
for amenities like parks and libraries, and
necessities like schools and roads, police,
firefighters and social services. At $1 ,1 60,
that comes to about $3.1 8 per day.
A New Landing Pad for Homeless Youth
“We’ve been waiting for this moment for
what seems like forever,” said Ain Dah
Yung director Deb Foster on a blustery
November night. The Native drumming
and singing crew had just wrapped up,
and pipe smoke was whipped down
University Ave. by a stiff wind. What
remained was to cut the red ribbon on a
42-unit supportive housing complex for
homeless Native youth 1 8 to 24 at 769
University Ave.
Even before the ribbon got cut, 1 4 units
had been filled; a testimony to the need.
The efficiency apartments each come with
their own bath and kitchen. Among the
PAGE 4 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020