New Special Assessment Policy to Charge St. Cloud Property Owners for Road Resurfacing

(KNSI) — The St. Cloud City Council approved a new special assessment policy Monday night and will start to charge property owners for road resurfacing projects.

Landowners used to be charged based on how many feet faced the road being repaired. Major sewer and road repairs will now have a portion passed onto adjacent property owners based on a new method. After the meeting, City Council President Jeff Goerger explained to KNSI News the city hopes using a benefit study to determine how much the project will improve the property’s value will be the fairer way to do it. “One of the things that over the years has come up is that [people say] ‘I don’t see the benefit. I didn’t get a benefit.’ So this is now going to show the benefit ahead of time. And the projects will be based on the results of those things.”

All property owners would be assessed regardless of whether the city got state or federal grants to help pay for a project. Residents wouldn’t be charged more than the analysis would show.

The other part of the change includes charging all landowners for mill and overlay work. “You will now be assessed 25% of the project cost. Now what’s nice there is that because that 25% of those projects that come forward will be assessed, that means there’s 25% More money available,” said Goerger.

About 20% of the city’s property owners don’t pay property taxes because they are a church, school, medical provider, or a nonprofit. However, under the new policy, those institutions could be assessed for resurfacing work.

The policy passed by a 4-2 vote, with Councilmember Jake Anderson and George Hontos opposing the overhaul.

___