Kosciusko County Commissioners passed a new ordinance for horse-drawn buggy plates Tuesday.
Commissioner Brad Jackson said the commissioners were taking a look at the ordinance, which has not been changed for more than 20 years, to adjust for the elimination of the township assessor positions, which went into effect July 1.In the past, collection of fees and distribution of the plates was the duty of the township assessors. Now, the county assessor's office will collect the fees and distribute the plates.
The new ordinance also changes the fees for the plates to $30 for all plates. The old rate was $25 for the first plate and $7.50 for each additional plate per buggy owner. Jackson said the fee hike reflects a more fair distribution of the cost to maintain the county's roads.
"Buggies do more damage to the roads than cars do," Jackson said, "because of the iron horse shoes and skinny wheels. But cars are paying a lot more."
Jackson said, to set the $30 rate, the commissioners took into account the lowest car cost and damage estimates. He said $30 is lower than the rate set by other counties, like Elkhart and LaGrange, with higher Amish populations.
County Assessor Laurie Renier said the plates are sold when buggy owners fill out personal property tax forms. She said, though township assessors' offices have been closed, the county will make arrangements to make it easy for local families to get their buggy plates.
"We're going to have satellite offices out where they're at," Renier said. "It's not going to be a hardship for anyone. We're going to have the satellite offices to make it convenient for the taxpayers."
The new ordinance takes effect for the purchase of next year's buggy plates.
