County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell described the tax rebate process, which will go to property owners at the end of this year, during the county commissioners meeting Tuesday.
When the state collects slot machine licensing fees, these funds will provide property tax relief.
Although Kosciusko residents haven't received their property tax bill yet, the amounts due may be as much as 27 percent higher than last year. Or, because of the county's $1.2 billion increase in assessed value, they may be about the same.Mitchell said the state expects to parcel out about $300 million to taxpayers in the form of rebates for taxes paid in 2007.
The amount of the return and several conditions apply to the funds.
The county has to pay for the postage and processing of about 22,000 checks from Dec. 20 to the end of the year. Mitchell said she doesn't plan to leave auditor-elect Marsha McSherry with the job when McSherry takes office in 2008.
Each check will have, in 12-point type (about 1/4 -inch high): "A portion of your local property taxes due in 2007 are being refunded due to tax relief provided by the Indiana General Assembly. Your refund is in the amount of ..."
Mitchell said she also would like to indicate the cost of processing the rebates, which she estimates at $15,000.
The rebate calculation will be based on the amount the state paid in homestead credits on the abstract. Mobile home owners will be included in the refund.
Auditors will receive the amount to be refunded in the form of a percentage. This percentage will reflect the net assessed value of a property after the property tax replacement credit calculation has been made.
Rates will be different for each taxing unit because rates for homestead credits are different than the original rates assigned.
Checks will be issued to the owner of record. If there are taxes outstanding on a property, the owners will be notified their rebate paid the back taxes. Checks will not be sent to mortgage companies.
If a taxpayer fails to make their spring payment, the penalty will not be adjusted once the refund is calculated.
Although no firm date has been given, Mitchell said tax statements should be issued around the first of June. Because the taxes are expected to show a dramatic increase statewide, County Treasurer Kent Adams may extend the payment due date.
Taxing units -- the city, towns, townships, libraries, schools, and the like, may request advance appropriations. The money will be distributed, Mitchell said, if it is available.
The commissioners heard from Highway Superintendent Dennis Pletcher who requested a no parking sign be repealed at Lakeview Trace, off Ind. 13, in Turkey Creek Township.
Pletcher showed income for this year, which is much lower than last year, when he thought he was feeling a pinch. Much of his operating money comes from a standard gasoline tax based on gallons sold. With gas prices at $3.40 per gallon, people aren't buying as much fuel and highway departments are receiving fewer funds.
The commissioners also:
n Denied rent assistance to Steven and Kim Shipley of Tippecanoe Township as requested by Township Trustee Tom Reiff at the last meeting.
n Continued a vacation request in Plain Township at the request of attorney Richard Kehoe. David and Elizabeth Kintzel and Steven Petro and Karen Petro want to vacate a portion of C24D Lane. Although Elizabeth Kintzel properly notified adjoining neighbors and had the legal advertisement at two newspapers in a timely fashion, a weekly newspaper failed to publish by the deadline.
The item was continued until June 12 so the process can begin all over again.
Commissioners are Brad Jackson, Bob Conley and Ron Truex. Truex was absent Tuesday.
