ABCS of Special Assessments

Special assessments are charges imposed on property owners to help pay for streets, sidewalks, sewers and other improvements that supposedly benefit that property. State law says the assessment can't be higher than the increase in the market value of the property that results from the improvement.

Cities can assess homeowners for improvements ranging from roads to tree-plantings to freeway sound barriers. Many cities assess the same way for some projects: Developers usually pay for brand-new streets and sewers, and cities pay for repair of old sewer and water systems. However, cities handle road repairs and other assessments differently.

Here are some examples:

• Bloomington: Homeowners pay 25 percent of street reconstruction costs, with the city paying 75 percent.

• Brooklyn Park: Homeowners pay 70 percent of street reconstruction costs, with the city paying 30 percent. New street lighting is assessed at $750 per lot.

• Eden Prairie: Homeowners paid 40 percent of the cost of rebuilding the one street that's been reconstructed there.

• Edina: Street reconstruction costs are paid by homeowners. Curb and gutter construction is paid from a city utility fund. Most homeowners pay 75 percent of sidewalk costs; if they're close to a school they pay half.

• Maple Grove: The city and homeowners share the cost of street reconstruction.

• Minneapolis: Homeowners pay about 25 percent of the cost of street reconstruction while the city pays about 75 percent (the formula can vary slightly depending on the project). Sidewalk repairs are paid by homeowners.

• Woodbury: Homeowners generally pay one-third of the cost of road reconstruction projects.