An update to the city of Le Sueur’s assessment policy will allow residents with disabilities, residents older than age 65,  and owners of sub-dividable residential lots to request a deferment of payments on special assessments. 

The change in policy was recently approved by the Le Sueur City Council, amendment, brings back deferment options on the basis of hardship that were previously included in city policy. 

Under the amendment, residents 65 years or older and property owners retired due to disability may be eligible to seek a deferment on payments owed to the city as a result of benefits accrued from infrastructure improvements. Interest on these assessments will continue to be charged at the same rate as other benefitting properties. Payment on that interest will be postponed until the deferment is ended. 

The full assessment and interest will come due in any of the following four scenarios: if the property owner requests to end the deferment; if a property owner 65 or older dies and the surviving owner is ineligible for a deferral; if any part of the property is sold, transferred or subdivided or if the property loses its homestead status. 

“An individual who was going to be assessed would state the reason for hardship and the city could then approve or deny those applications. That language went away in the last policy,” said City Administrator Joe Roby. 

(Source: Le Sueur County News)