City, Town Officials Meet, Discuss Waste District, Other Topics
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
City and town officials met Wednesday in the Kosciusko County Courthouse courtroom in an informal town council meeting.
Town council members and clerks came together in the same fashion one year ago to hear a tax levy request from the solid waste district's director. Consequently, the increase was approved by Warsaw, all the county towns as well as the county council.
The meeting, hosted by county auditor Sue Ann Mitchell, began with a discussion about the solid waste district again.
Following a $50,400 cut to the district's budget Monday, director Sue Studebaker, called other solid waste managers and learned that the State Board of Local Government Finance allowed many of them to collect taxes at the higher rate requested in 2003, payable in 2004.
On April 30, Mitchell called Beth Henson, commissioner of the Department of Local Government Finance, regarding the district's proposed levy. Mitchell was told that morning that Kosciusko County's district would not be able to charge the increased tax rate.
So, on Monday, the district board proceeded to slash programs and projects.
When Studebaker informed Mitchell of the other district's success, Mitchell called Henson again. The auditor then learned that a court decision had exempted the solid waste district's from remaining at the 2002 levies. That decision was announced later on April 30. Henson didn't bother to advise Mitchell of the decision.
"So the good news is the solid waste will have the money," Mitchell said.
The auditor brought everyone up to date regarding this year's tax distributions, new levy calculations and assessed values.
• Kosciusko County expects to send provisional property tax bills out before the last week of May. They will be at 45 percent of what was due in 2003. June 30 is the final collection date.
Advance tax distributions will be done on June 30 for budget purposes and will include excise taxes.
• Assessed values were due from the county assessor July 1, 2003. Values for 2003 were received from the county assessor March 17, 2004. Exemptions were posted by the auditor's office in four weeks and assessed values were certified to the Department of Local Government Finance April 19.
In 2002 the state changed the way levy increases are calculated. Before 2002 every county could take an assessed value growth quotient of 5 percent. Now the calculations are based on non farm personal income. The AVGQ is 4.8 percent in 2003; 4.7 percent in 2004; expected to be 4.4 percent in 2005 and 3.9 percent in 2006.
• The county paid out $900,000 in property tax appeals and $9,000 in interest to people who had overpaid in anticipation of the new assessed values.
The money comes out of the county's general fund and will be returned in the next tax draw.
The clerks and officials were advised to be patient about receiving tax monies again this year.
Taxing units receive a "1782 notice" from the Department of Local Government Finance and Mitchell said several towns were surprised by their rates. The 1782's reflect budget cuts or reduced rates and the councils and clerks had about five days to challenge the state board's findings.
"Changes to the 1782 are due today," Mitchell said. "If you haven't sent your's back yet, stay afterwards. We'll check your budget and fax in any changes."
Kosciusko County Emergency Management Director Ed Rock talked about his responsibilities, saying one of his main priorities is to assess all reasonable hazards and reduce any impact those hazards may have and to ensure the protection of the public.
"It's not just terrorism," he said of the prevention planning mandated by the new Department of Homeland Security mandates. "It's possible man-made and natural disasters, too."
A local emergency planning committee conducts alerts and exercises and coordinates the responsibilities of various agencies here and with adjacent counties.
In 2003 Rock received $17,000 for planning; a total of $195,000 for disaster preparedness; and $160,000 for communications upgrades.
Rock said the state is pushing for switch to emergency communications on an 800 megahertz frequency.
He has purchased seven portable radios and eight mobile data units to accommodate the system. The hand-held radios cost between $3,200 to $3,500 each. [[In-content Ad]]
City and town officials met Wednesday in the Kosciusko County Courthouse courtroom in an informal town council meeting.
Town council members and clerks came together in the same fashion one year ago to hear a tax levy request from the solid waste district's director. Consequently, the increase was approved by Warsaw, all the county towns as well as the county council.
The meeting, hosted by county auditor Sue Ann Mitchell, began with a discussion about the solid waste district again.
Following a $50,400 cut to the district's budget Monday, director Sue Studebaker, called other solid waste managers and learned that the State Board of Local Government Finance allowed many of them to collect taxes at the higher rate requested in 2003, payable in 2004.
On April 30, Mitchell called Beth Henson, commissioner of the Department of Local Government Finance, regarding the district's proposed levy. Mitchell was told that morning that Kosciusko County's district would not be able to charge the increased tax rate.
So, on Monday, the district board proceeded to slash programs and projects.
When Studebaker informed Mitchell of the other district's success, Mitchell called Henson again. The auditor then learned that a court decision had exempted the solid waste district's from remaining at the 2002 levies. That decision was announced later on April 30. Henson didn't bother to advise Mitchell of the decision.
"So the good news is the solid waste will have the money," Mitchell said.
The auditor brought everyone up to date regarding this year's tax distributions, new levy calculations and assessed values.
• Kosciusko County expects to send provisional property tax bills out before the last week of May. They will be at 45 percent of what was due in 2003. June 30 is the final collection date.
Advance tax distributions will be done on June 30 for budget purposes and will include excise taxes.
• Assessed values were due from the county assessor July 1, 2003. Values for 2003 were received from the county assessor March 17, 2004. Exemptions were posted by the auditor's office in four weeks and assessed values were certified to the Department of Local Government Finance April 19.
In 2002 the state changed the way levy increases are calculated. Before 2002 every county could take an assessed value growth quotient of 5 percent. Now the calculations are based on non farm personal income. The AVGQ is 4.8 percent in 2003; 4.7 percent in 2004; expected to be 4.4 percent in 2005 and 3.9 percent in 2006.
• The county paid out $900,000 in property tax appeals and $9,000 in interest to people who had overpaid in anticipation of the new assessed values.
The money comes out of the county's general fund and will be returned in the next tax draw.
The clerks and officials were advised to be patient about receiving tax monies again this year.
Taxing units receive a "1782 notice" from the Department of Local Government Finance and Mitchell said several towns were surprised by their rates. The 1782's reflect budget cuts or reduced rates and the councils and clerks had about five days to challenge the state board's findings.
"Changes to the 1782 are due today," Mitchell said. "If you haven't sent your's back yet, stay afterwards. We'll check your budget and fax in any changes."
Kosciusko County Emergency Management Director Ed Rock talked about his responsibilities, saying one of his main priorities is to assess all reasonable hazards and reduce any impact those hazards may have and to ensure the protection of the public.
"It's not just terrorism," he said of the prevention planning mandated by the new Department of Homeland Security mandates. "It's possible man-made and natural disasters, too."
A local emergency planning committee conducts alerts and exercises and coordinates the responsibilities of various agencies here and with adjacent counties.
In 2003 Rock received $17,000 for planning; a total of $195,000 for disaster preparedness; and $160,000 for communications upgrades.
Rock said the state is pushing for switch to emergency communications on an 800 megahertz frequency.
He has purchased seven portable radios and eight mobile data units to accommodate the system. The hand-held radios cost between $3,200 to $3,500 each. [[In-content Ad]]