If you own property in Southwest Burnsville's recent street improvement area (Alcana, Valley View Road, or Crest Drive), you just caught a break: your assessment is $2,869 instead of the estimated $4,189.
That's $1,320 less than the city projected a year ago, and it's official as of the February 2nd Burnsville City Council meeting.
Here's where it gets interesting: the city actually did more work than originally planned, but it cost less.
The original plan: Resurface streets with a 2.5-inch mill and overlay (basically shaving off old pavement and putting new stuff on top).
What actually happened: When crews started work, they discovered most of the pavement was thinner than expected—in some spots, less than 2.5 inches total. So on Alcana and Valley View Road, they removed all the old pavement and replaced it with 3 inches of new pavement. Only Crest Drive got the planned overlay because it had adequate thickness.
Why it cost less anyway: Better weather during construction and the underground conditions weren't as bad as anticipated. Sometimes you get lucky.
November 15, 2026 is your magic date. Pay in full by then and you pay zero interest. Miss that deadline and the assessment automatically rolls onto your 2027 property tax bill.
Since the assessment exceeds $2,000, you can spread it over 15 years at 5.5% interest if you don't pay in full.
Real talk on that 5.5% rate: Council Member Keely pointed out this is actually "one of the best deals out there" right now. Auto loans, mortgages, credit cards—everything has skyrocketed. Burnsville's AAA bond rating is what keeps this rate stable and low compared to market rates.
Here's something most Burnsville residents don't know: Southwest Burnsville plays by different rules.
Most of this area is still on septic systems and private wells—no city water or sewer. That's why the assessment policy is unique here. The city pays 60% of the actual project cost, property owners pay 40%.
One resident at the meeting got confused by a project brochure mentioning water line replacements and lawn repairs. The city clarified that's just their standard template—there was no water/sewer work in this project because those systems don't exist in this part of Southwest Burnsville yet.
If you're a disabled veteran: Minnesota exempts you from property taxes on your homestead, but that exemption does NOT apply to special assessments. You still owe the $2,869 even with the tax exemption.
Financial hardship deferrals: Available based on income, but interest keeps accruing during the deferral. If you can pay, the city recommends paying rather than deferring.
Properties with development potential: Four properties in the area got special consideration because they're adjacent vacant lots that could potentially be subdivided later. Their extra assessments are deferred up to 15 years and forgiven if the land isn't developed.
Want context? Edina charged $7,500 for reconstruction work last year. Your $2,869 is "right in the middle of the pack" according to the city engineer, and significantly lower than many neighboring communities.
As of 4 PM on the day of the hearing, the city had received zero objections to the assessment. That's notable given they sent out multiple mailings, held open houses, and fielded hundreds of emails and calls.
The assessment is now officially adopted. You'll receive your bill, and the clock is ticking toward that November 15, 2026 deadline.
The big picture: This is actually a municipal finance success story. The city did more work than planned, spent 31% less than budgeted, and delivered infrastructure improvements that should last another 20+ years. In the world of street assessments, that's about as good as it gets.
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