Saturday, June 12, 2010

“Property tax back in Cam-Mo Ambulance District” plus 1 more

“Property tax back in Cam-Mo Ambulance District” plus 1 more

Property tax back in Cam-Mo Ambulance District

Posted: 12 Jun 2010 04:44 AM PDT


To bandage budget woes related to the economic downturn, the board of directors for Cam-Mo DBA Lake West Ambulance decided to temporarily re-instate a small portion of its property tax June 8 as it completed its budgeting process for the next fiscal year which begins July 1.
"We've got to have the money in order to operate the way we're going," treasurer Glen "PeeWee" Helton said.
Over a two-year period from when it first started being collected to now, Lake West Ambulance has seen its 1/2 cent sales tax revenue decline by more than $270,000, according to office manager Gayle Webb.
In its first year of sales tax collection, the district received about $700,000. With the end of this fiscal year at the end of June, the board is anticipating a total collection of approximately $540,000.
As the sales tax revenue declined over this period, the board has cut expenses to make up the difference, and employee wages have been frozen.
"There's just nothing left to cut," president Ron Riley said.
The board has been discussing the possibility of reinstating the property tax for some time, but has waited to see if the economy would turn around before acting.
While revenue has gone down overall, cost of doing business has increased. Medical supplies and insurance have increased while equipment keeps getting older.

Without the property tax bump, the ambulance service would face deficit spending to continue operations, according to Webb.
"We're not trying to make money, we're just trying to keep the service going," she said. "This is the fiscally responsible thing to do to have quality EMS in the area."
The sales tax was approved by voters with the promise that it would replace property tax. And the property tax was reduced to zero in 2006.
The board wants to levy real estate and personal property within its district at a rate of $0.05 per $100 of assessed valuation. That rate should bring the district what it is down in annual sales tax revenue from its first year, as limited to by Missouri Revised Statute 321.554.
It states, "In the event that in the immediately preceding year the ambulance ... board actually received more or less sales tax revenue than estimated, the ambulance ... board may adjust its operating levy for the current year to reflect such increase or decrease."
If the board had not acted on the issue this year, it could not do it in 2011. Recouping this type of loss is only allowed to be initiated in a non-reassessment year.

"We can roll it back again if the economy improves," Riley said. "But I think we need to do this now."
A public hearing on the issue will be scheduled sometime in August when property tax hearings are typically held. The date has not yet been set.
The new budget also includes a 20-cent per hour wage increase for EMTs and paramedics.

Other funding
The district's other main source of revenue is user fees. Collection of that fee is doing well. Without the last month of the fiscal year, the district has received about $413,000. The cost of billing and collecting is more than $30,000.

 

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Property tax bills to be sent by Tuesday

Posted: 12 Jun 2010 04:23 AM PDT

LA PORTE — La Porte County Treasurer Nancy Hawkins said she expects her office will have provisional property tax bills for 2009 pay 2010 in the mail by Tuesday.

The first installment will be due on or before July 9, and the second installment will be due by Nov. 10.

The bill will mirror last year's bill for most taxpayers. The only exception will be those taxpayers who have filed a Homestead Deduction since 2006. Those deductions have been added to the calculation for this provisional bill, so about 2,400 taxpayers will see a reduction on their billing, Hawkins said.

Also, beginning in 2010, state law requires the tax bill mailing to include a form that allows taxpayers to verify their residency and eligibility for the homestead deduction. Each individual, and his/her spouse, if any, claiming the homestead deduction is required to provide both the last five digits of his/her Social Security number and the last five digits of his/her driver's license number. This information will create a secure homestead database that will be used by county auditors to track homesteads statewide and prevent fraud. It also will help reduce taxes by verifying that each taxpayer holds only one homestead deduction, thereby ensuring everyone shares equally in the property tax burden.

This Homestead Verification Form will be printed on pink paper and be included in the tax bill if the owner has previously filed a homestead deduction. It is not necessary for a taxpayer to refile the homestead deduction, but the verification form must be completed at least once by Jan. 1, 2013. If the property is owned jointly, all named owners must provide their information and sign the form. This form is not required to be returned in person. Simply mail it back to the auditor's address provided on the back of the form.

Questions regarding the Homestead Verification Form may be directed to the Auditor's Office at (219) 326-6808, extensions 2480 or 2479.




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