Residents of the First Assessment District, known as Unorganized Territory, are invited to participate in another public meeting to share concerns or questions regarding their township level property taxes.
The meeting is 6:30 p.m. July 17th in the basement of the Land Services Building behind the Historic Courthouse, 322 Laurel St.
The First Assessment District roadway system is a complex network encompassing nearly 60 miles of publicly funded and semi-public roadways. Crow Wing County has the authority and responsibility to maintain these public facilities. The county board commissioners act as the elected policymakers in the absence of an organized form of local government. Like in other townships, FAD residents pay a separate township level property tax to fund government services within its jurisdiction. This is in addition to county level and school district level taxes. Crow Wing County does not subsidize the FAD or other townships for infrastructure needs. Crow Wing County does not utilize local sales tax revenue for township roadway construction and maintenance. Township level property taxes are currently the only source of revenue to fund all activities necessary to properly maintain the FAD roadway system.
In recent years, the FAD has experienced adequate levels of roadway construction. This has only been possible due to the availability of a large cash fund balance. Prior to 2021, these cash reserves are expected to be depleted and projected levels of property tax will be insufficient to sustain required levels of roadway improvements.
All construction projects promised to the public in the current Highway Improvement Plan will be delivered. If nothing is done to generate additional financial resources, there will only be enough funding to provide basic summer maintenance activities and winter snow plowing after 2020.
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There remains a long list of FAD roadways in need of major repair. Crow Wing County is seeking input regarding strategies to help ensure sufficient funds are available for 2021 and beyond.
Go to crowwing.us/DocumentCenter/View/13690 to see a draft of the presentation. For those unable to attend the meeting but wish to provide input, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FAD-2021 where comments are being collected.
