Posted: 10 Sep 2010 01:45 AM PDT

Published: Friday, September 10, 2010 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 10:41 p.m.

Each year property owners face the fact that they must pay property taxes.

As the Oct. 1 date for the start of collecting property taxes draws near, Lauderdale County Revenue Commissioner Danny Hendrix took time to talk with Staff Writer Tom Smith about property tax collections.

Q: How long do people have to pay their property taxes?

A: Property taxes are something that property owners must pay every year and it can be done any time from Oct. 1 until Dec. 31. The taxes can be paid at the courthouse of the county they live in or it can be mailed to that courthouse. If the payment is mailed, it must be postmarked by Dec. 31.

Tax notices will be sent out to all property owners on or around Oct. 1. And with those notices there is a sticker that can be put on an envelope and it can be sent back to us so they don't have to come in.

We encourage people to come in early or mail the taxes in early.

Q: What if I'm late with paying property taxes?

A: There is a $5 state late fee plus there are county late fees that vary with each county.

So anyone paying after Dec. 31 will have to pay some type of late fee no matter where they live and it cannot be waived.

Q: If an individual comes to the courthouse to pay taxes, what do they need?

A: They need to be aware of exactly how much property they own, where the property is located and most importantly the exact name it is in. This just speeds up the process. Also, it helps if they bring the property tax notice with them.

Q: What about manufactured homes?

A: People who have registration decals for manufactured homes only have two months to pay — Oct. 1 to Nov. 30. This is for people who have a manufactured home but do not own the property where it's located.

Q: What if someone bought property this year and didn't get a property tax notice?

A: Anyone who bought property after Oct. 1, 2009, will not receive a property tax notice for this year, but they still owe taxes for that property. They must come into the office, call our office or check online in the previous owner's name at lauderdalecountyonline.com.

Q: Is anyone exempt from paying property taxes?

A: People older than 65 and have a taxable income of less than $7,500 or people who are totally and permanent disabled. This only applies to that person's primary residence.

Q: Should I worry if my mortgage company pays my property taxes?

A: It is still the property owner's obligation. It never hurts to check the website to make sure the property taxes have been paid.

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Tax levy down, property values up

Posted: 10 Sep 2010 10:01 AM PDT

The North Platte Telegraph

Property owners could see a slight decrease in the amount of taxes they pay to the city of North Platte if the 2010-11 budget is approved as submitted.

The 1.15 percent decrease in the overall city levy reflects the city's general fund, its fire and police pension fund and the amount levied to repay the city's debt.

Projected property valuations in North Platte have increased an estimated 1.7 percent this year, from $1.18 million to $1.2 million.

The city is asking for $3.25 million in property taxes for 2010-11, making up 14 percent of the general fund budget.

"The amount of property tax the city receives each year has remained the same for several years," said City Administrator Jim Hawks noted. "Since we kept that amount fixed and valuations grow, we are able to lower the levy."

The total city levy (excluding the Airport Authority) is projected at 47.46 cents per $100 of valuation, compared to 48.01 cents per $100 in 2009-10.

Presenting the budget to the city council Tuesday night, Mayor Marc Kaschke said it represents the second consecutive year of significant cuts and/or flat spending.

Hawks took the council through the proposed budget line by line, beginning with projected revenues and continuing his way through several city departments before time ran out on the council's first budget work session. The sessions will continue today and Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Public Service Building conference room.

Hawks noted that sales tax revenues, which comprise 29 percent of the general fund's money, are projected at $6.9 million for 2010-11, up $100,000 from 2009-10.

The proposed budget shows no cost of living increase for any city employees, including police and fire. Hawks told the council that negotiations with the unions are underway and they are working towards a goal of extending the current contract with no increased.

Kaschke praised the employees for their willingness to sacrifice this year by forgoing raises.

The economic situation across the state continues to be challenging," Kaschke said. "To address this reality, we put the city on a diet. We didn't try any fad or crash diets. We worked diligently to trim expenses and remain committed to shrinking city government's waistline."

It's a budget to be proud of, Kaschke said, and it reduces taxes and invests in the city's future.

Click on this story at nptelegraph.com to post your comments, or e-mail diane. wetzel@nptelegraph.com.

County, TRPD set 2011 property tax levy figures

Posted: 10 Sep 2010 11:20 AM PDT

The Hennepin County Board approved a maximum property tax levy of zero percent for 2011. The levy - coming from property taxes for the county - will not increase over 2010 but will remain at $676.2 million.

County Administrator Richard Johnson will present the proposed 2011 Hennepin County budget to the board on Tuesday, Sept. 28. The county's proposed 2011 budget will reflect a decrease from 2010.

The board will then launch a series of budget hearings beginning in October to discuss the budget and gather public input. The meetings can be viewed live on Metro Cable Network/Channel 6 or online at www.hennepin.us. Look under "Hennepin County Board Meetings" and "Board meeting videos."

In November, property owners will get a notice that shows the impact of the maximum levy on their property; the notice includes the impact of taxes proposed by other local units of government, such as cities and school districts.

The board will conduct an official public meeting to gather public comment about the proposed budget and levies on Tuesday, Nov. 30, at 6 p.m. in the Board Room on the 24th Floor of the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 S. Sixth St., Minneapolis.

The board is required by state law to adopt a maximum levy in September. The board may approve a levy that is lower than the approved maximum, but they cannot set it higher than the maximum adopted today.

The board, acting as the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HCHRA), also approved a maximum HCHRA levy at $5.6 million. The proposed HCHRA budget will be discussed Tuesday, Nov. 9, immediately following the County Board meeting, which starts at 1:30 p.m., and also at the budget meeting Nov. 30.

The board, acting as the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA), also approved the maximum levy for the railroad authority at $18 million. The proposed HCRRA levy and budget will be discussed Tuesday, Nov. 16, immediately following the County Board meeting, which starts at 1:30 p.m., and also at the budget meeting Nov. 30.

The board also set public hearings for Monday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m., on proposed changes to fees charged for county services and on the county's 2010 capital improvements budget.

The final Hennepin County, HCRRA and HCHRA budgets and tax levies will be adopted at the board's Tuesday, Dec. 14, meeting, which begins at 1:30 p.m. in the Board Room.

TRPD

At the Three Rivers Park District Board's meeting, Sept. 2, Commissioner Sara Wyatt introduced a resolution to set the Park District's 2011 property tax levy at the same level as 2010. The Board unanimously approved Wyatt's proposed resolution. By approving the resolution, the Board has made the commitment that there will be no increase in the Park District's tax levy next year.

"We've held costs down where we can, our employees have made short-term sacrifices, and we have found other revenue sources to help close budget gaps," Board Chair Larry Blackstad said. "These measures have helped us reduce the Park District's reliance on revenue from property taxes." Salary scales have been frozen; annual Cost of Living Adjustments for staff were not offered in 2010 and are proposed to be eliminated in 2011.

Visits to the Three Rivers system have increased substantially each year, according to Park District officials. More than 8 million visits are expected to be recorded by the end of 2010. The increases in visitation mean a higher demand for park services, yet the Park District is meeting this demand with a flat budget. The additional visits also help generate additional revenue through user fees at amenities like golf courses, campgrounds, and boat rentals. "More and more people are visiting our parks and paying for the services they want to use," Blackstad said.

Recognizing that the safety and cleanliness of Three Rivers Parks are central to their popularity, Blackstad said ensuring that Park District facilities are safe and well-maintained will continue to be the highest priority. "Above all else, we'll continue to work to maintain our parks and trails the way the public has come to expect from Three Rivers Parks," Blackstad said. "We see parks and trails as a key part of the quality of life in the Twin Cities metropolitan area."

- Eric Serrano

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Property Tax

Friday, September 10, 2010

“Property tax notices will be sent soon” plus 2 more

“Property tax notices will be sent soon” plus 2 more

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