Hoping to improve on a 51-percent collection rate for property taxes on mobile homes, Kosciusko County Council approved a $10 permit fee Thursday. County Treasurer Sue Ann Mitchell introduced the ordinance, saying she wanted to cover the time and labor that goes into processing transfer of title and moving permits, and to “put some teeth” into tax collection. About $275,000 went uncollected among the 3,659 total mobile homes that were billed last year, she told council members. She said it isn’t always clear who owns a mobile home, and described the labor-intensive process of trying to determining to whom to send the tax bill, which may take more than an hour per case. She added that the $10 fee isn’t meant to be punitive, noting that other Indiana counties charge for permits. “The $10 fee is a minimal cost. It’s not intended to bankrupt them, but to get their attention,” she said. Based on the number of permits last year, Mitchell said she expects the fee will generate about $4,000 per year, which will go into the general fund. The council earlier in the meeting chose officers for the year, naming Bob Sanders council president and Larry Teghtmeyer vice president. Also during the meeting, members approved a budget reduction of $15,000 from the Health Maintenance Grant fund for rental of space at the K21 Health Services Pavilion. The county health department can now accept Medicaid administration fees, and so has freed up extra funds for building rental. Council members also approved $16,055 for annual software maintenance from the clerk of courts perpetuation fund, as well as the replacement of two full-time and one part-time position in the clerk’s office; and the highway department’s transfer of $6,107 from trucks to equipment to buy chain saws and other shop tools. And they approved up to $17,654 in additional appropriations for the Drug and Alcohol Use Fees group insurance fund, though remarking that the cost seemed high and they would like further details before the funds are spent.
