Truth in Taxation

Under the Truth in Taxation process, the City and other local taxing jurisdictions are required to hold a public hearing prior to adoption of its annual tax levy and General Fund budget. Citizens can provide input prior to final development of the budget document by staff.

Timeline for the 2021 Budget

  • September
    • City staff presented several options for the City Council to consider in setting the preliminary tax levy
    • City Council established the preliminary tax levy for taxes payable 2021 at their September 21 meeting
  • October
    • City Council will review the five-year enterprise fund budgets
    • City Council will review the 2020 general and enterprise fund annual budgets
  • November 
    • Review of 2020 general and enterprise fund annual budgets continues
  • December
    • City Council will hold a public hearing at their December 7, 2020
    • City Council will consider adopting the 2021 budget and establish a final tax levy at its December 21, 2020 meeting

2021 Preliminary Tax Levy

The City Council set the maximum tax levy at $11,413,137 at their September 21st meeting. 

The tax impact on the median-value home would be:

  • 2021 Median Value Home: $285,000
  • 2021 Median Value Home city taxes: $872
  • $64 annual increase from 2020 ($5.33 per month)

Chaska will remain very competitive as it relates to our City taxes compared to the other municipalities in the Twin Cities. If we assume that each of the other cities see no increase in taxes, we would be in the ten lowest tax levies per capita in the Twin Cities, a ranking we have had for several years.

The added priorities that would be funded by the proposed 2021 tax levy if approved in December:

  1. Fully funding the Capital Improvement Program
  2. Budgeting to address Budget Reserve Issue
  3. Budgeting to address identified Policing Needs

Watch City Administrator Matt Podhradsky present the options for the 2021 preliminary tax levy.

Five-Year Forecasts