Minneapolis and St. Paul will finalize their 2017 budgets this month, but the city tax bills reflect only a portion of what homeowners pay for public services. Residents also pay taxes to counties and school districts, and pay for utilities. St. Paul also charges a right-of-way assessment, and residents must contract for trash pickup.
Do public services cost more in Minneapolis or St. Paul?
The two cities are finalizing their 2017 budgets, but city taxes make up a small share of a homeowners' total obligation for services.
December 4, 2016 at 10:57PM
The Star Tribune examined the proposed full cost of services on a median homesteaded home in each city next year, as well as the costs on a home valued at $180,000 in each city. Typical costs were used to calculate non-tax expenses.
The median home is worth more in Minneapolis, resulting in higher tax bills on a typical house, but residents in each city pay a similar share of their home's values in taxes. St. Paul homeowners pay more than those in Minneapolis in non-tax costs such as utilities, private trash hauling, a right-of-way assessment and private alley plowing — totaling more than $1,200 next year.
Due to the different housing markets, the tax bill for a $180,000 home is lower than a median home's bill in Minneapolis and higher than a median home's bill in St. Paul.
The governor said it may be 2027 or 2028 by the time the market catches up to demand.
