“Property tax delinquency is down from ’09 in Polk County” plus 3 more

Property tax delinquency is down from ’09 in Polk County
Property tax appeal backlog is embarrassing for Thurston County
Property tax defeat means fewer Youngtown officers
Property tax defeat means fewer Youngtown officers

Property tax delinquency is down from ’09 in Polk County

Posted: 11 Jun 2010 02:12 AM PDT

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Property tax delinquency is down this year in Polk County ahead of the county's annual tax sale.

The number of delinquent parcels and the total dollar amount owed are lower than figures from the same time last year, Treasurer Mary Maloney said in a news release. Here's how the numbers break down:

• As of May 28, the number of delinquent parcels was 5,068, down 916 from last year.
• The amount owed was $9,209,631 on May 28, down $2,665,952 from the same time in 2009.

Information on property tax delinquencies can be viewed at www.polkcountyiowa.gov/treasurer.

Polk County's annual tax sale will begin at 7:30 a.m. June 21 at the Polk County Convention Complex, 501 Grand Ave. Payment of delinquent taxes must be received by 5 p.m. on June 18 to prevent parcels from being offered at the tax sale.

Online payments can be made at www.IowaTaxAndTags.gov. For more information, call the treasurer's office at 286-3060.

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Property tax appeal backlog is embarrassing for Thurston County

Posted: 10 Jun 2010 11:45 PM PDT

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THE OLYMPIAN | • Published June 11, 2010

Thurston County owns a dubious distinction. The backlog of property tax appeals is greater in Thurston County than any other county in the state.

While setting the 2011 budget, county commissioners must remember that justice delayed is justice denied. And property tax payers who are waiting a year or two have their appeals heard are being denied justice.

And the statistics show taxpayers have good reason to be upset. In almost half the cases from 2007, taxpayers proved their case for lower property valuations. That's a significant error rate on the county's part.

Yes, it's true, that the Board of Equalization — the appointed three-member board that hears appeals — listened to 988 appeals from the 2007 assessment year. While that was four times the number of appeals from the previous year, it's still a small portion of the total number of parcels in the county.

But of the 988 appeals, the board sustained 515 valuations, lowered property values in 470 cases and increased the assessor's assessment in three cases. The fact that nearly half the board-considered appeals were upheld should cause taxpayers to wonder just how fair property values are in Thurston County.

This is a pivotal year for property assessments in Thurston County. After 12 years, Assessor Patricia Costello is retiring, creating a rare vacancy. A number of candidates are vying to replace her.

As those candidates go from neighborhood to neighborhood this summer and fall asking for voters' support, they need to be prepared to talk about their plans for equitable assessments that meet the test of fair market value. They must also present their plans to reduce the property tax appeal backlog and how they will build relationships with county commissioners to ensure timely adjudications by the Board of Equalization.

It's clear that today's system is broken.

Anytime you have hundreds of taxpayers waiting 16 months or longer to have their cases heard, the system is broken.

Anytime Thurston County leads the state in the number of pending appeals, the system is broken.

What are the candidates' solutions to those problems?

It's important that the county assessor have a good working relationship with the county commissioners, who determine how scarce county dollars are going to be spent. It's obvious that the relationship between Costello and the county commission is strained. Part of that is because Costello asked for the support of commissioners in appealing the Great Wolf Lodge case in the courts.

Costello believed that the resort at Grand Mound should pay its fair share of property taxes. Attorneys for the lodge said the tribe's ownership put the lodge off the tax rolls.

Even though commissioners turned their back on Costello, she was able to persuade Prosecutor Ed Holm to pursue the case. The county prevailed in the latest federal court appeal, which will save other taxpayers about $1 million. That's a significant victory, and Costello and Holm — not the commissioners — deserve credit.

Whatever their feelings for Costello or the assessor's office, it's imperative that Commissioners Sandra Romero, Cathy Wolfe and Karen Valenzuela recognize the unfairness of the property tax appeal backlog.

Commissioners must provide the additional funding and staff time necessary to eliminate the backlog, then put a system in place so the Board of Equalization can stay current. The fact that the board will only have 2008 cases resolved by year's end is unacceptable.

Even state officials have been critical of the county's backlog.

It's important that the next county assessor provide property assessments that reflect fair market value. But it's equally important that those property owners who believe the county has missed the mark, have their appeals heard in a timely fashion.

That must be the commitment of Commissioners Romero, Wolfe and Valenzuela.

It's a matter of fairness.

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Property tax defeat means fewer Youngtown officers

Posted: 11 Jun 2010 03:41 AM PDT

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Associated Press

Posted on June 11, 2010 at 9:31 AM

Updated today at 9:31 AM

YOUNGTOWN, Ariz. (AP) — The Youngtown police department is cutting its ranks after voters rejected a property tax increase.

Chief of Police Terry McDonald said the department will try to work with four fewer bodies with one officer working at a time except for Friday and Saturday nights.

The mayor and council decided it is necessary to cut approximately $300,000 a year from the police department. More cuts were made to other departments as well.

McDonald said Youngtown is also relying on its good relationship with El Mirage and Peoria police to back them up if needed.

Town Manager Lloyce Robinson said several cuts had to be made in order for Youngtown to survive the loss of state-shared revenues.

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Information from: KFYI-AM, http://www.kfyi.com/main.html

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Property tax defeat means fewer Youngtown officers

Posted: 11 Jun 2010 03:28 AM PDT

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Associated Press - June 11, 2010 6:14 AM ET

YOUNGTOWN, Ariz. (AP) - The Youngtown police department is cutting its ranks after voters rejected a property tax increase.

Chief of Police Terry McDonald said the department will try to work with four fewer bodies with one officer working at a time except for Friday and Saturday nights.

The mayor and council decided it is necessary to cut approximately $300,000 a year from the police department. More cuts were made to other departments as well.

McDonald said Youngtown is also relying on its good relationship with El Mirage and Peoria police to back them up if needed.

Town Manager Lloyce Robinson said several cuts had to be made in order for Youngtown to survive the loss of state-shared revenues.

Information from: KFYI-AM, http://www.kfyi.com/main.html

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