Kosciusko County pet owners will pay less for their canine friends in 2009, at least as far as taxes are concerned.
The Kosciusko County Council voted Thursday to eliminate the dog tax.
The tax, $5 per dog per year, funds compensation to farmers when their animals are killed by dogs, the use of animal care facilities, reimbursement to people who have undergone rabies exposure, prophylaxis and purchase of dog tags.County Auditor Marsha McSherry said the county collected $16,000 in dog taxes this year. She said the animal kill fund has a current surplus of about $30,000.
County Assessor Laurie Renier said collection of the tax could soon become a problem because the form 101, which county residents used to report personal property like recreational vehicles, will no longer be used in 2009. Renier said the dog tax form was listed on the back of the form 101. Renier said a new form would have to be made and mailed to continue collecting the dog tax.
Councilman Brad Tandy said he was for eliminating the tax. Tandy said the time and expense the county would have to pay to administer and collect the tax would outweigh the benefit.
"We were aware that there was not much compliance with the tax," he said. "And, there is no ordinance through which we can enforce compliance. Administratively, the cost of collecting that tax overshadowed the benefit to the county."
The council eliminated the tax by a split 5-2 vote. Councilmen Bob Sanders and Tom Anglin voted against the motion. Sanders said he thought the county should investigate possible negative effects of eliminating the tax.
"I would like to have more information before I say, 'Yes, I want to do away with the dog tax,'" Sanders said.
Anglin said he thought the council should investigate the possibility of paying local veterinary clinics a small fee to collect the tax and distribute the tags for the county.
