Annual Utility Certification and Special Assessment Process
Each year, the City conducts a certification and special assessment process to collect any unpaid utility bills associated with residential or commercial properties. This process ensures the City can recover costs for services already rendered.
When and Why This Happens
- The certification process occurs once per year and targets delinquent utility bills- balances left unpaid by current tenants, previous homeowners or property owners.
- Properties with past due amounts as of June 1 each year will be considered delinquent. Unpaid balances by that year's due date will be certified to Hennepin County and assessed to the property taxes the following year per Minnesota Statute 444.075, Subdivision 3e.
Notification Process
- Only one notification letter is sent out to alert property owners of any outstanding balances. This letter is typically mailed in early August.
- It's critical to ensure that the City has your current mailing address. Failure to update your contact information may result in missed notices and unavoidable assessments.
Payment Guidelines
- Payments received after June 1 will be automatically applied to reduce the pending delinquent balance, but only if the utility account is still active.
- For closed or final accounts, be sure to include the account number when submitting payments so they can be correctly applied.
What Happens if You Don’t Pay
- If the delinquent amount is not paid in full by the November deadline, it will be transferred to Hennepin County as a special property tax assessment.
- A 4% interest fee will be added, and the amount will appear on the property tax statement for the following year.
Contact Us
Have questions about a pending utility assessment or the certification process? Call the utility billing department at 763.592.6760.