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Wednesday, August 15, 2007 1:03 AM CDT
Property tax bills to go out Monday
By DAVE FOPAY, Staff Writer
dfopay@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — Coles County might still be a bit short of money until property taxes come in, but not as much as once thought, Treasurer George Edwards says.
After the county board at its meeting Tuesday authorized him to issue tax anticipation warrants and make budget fund transfers if he feels either’s needed, Edwards said he thinks only the fund transfers will be necessary.
That’s because his office now plans to mail this year’s property tax bills on Monday, he said, and payments should start coming in as soon as property owners get their bills.
There will be two set payment dates for the bills, with half due on Sept. 24 and the other half due on Oct. 24, Edwards said.
This year’s property tax bills will be sent out later than normal because the tax cycle process took longer to deal with a state-required change in how farmland is assessed. Last year’s bills were mailed on June 30.
On Tuesday, Edwards said the county will have to make payroll today and again before the tax money starts coming in. That’s why he thinks he’ll need to transfer money to the county budget’s general fund from any other budget fund that has a surplus.
However, issuing tax anticipation warrants, a type of loan the county could take out for money to use until property tax revenue comes in, won’t be necessary now, Edwards explained.
Edwards also said county taxing bodies can usually expect some tax revenue about two weeks before the first payment date, “and we still hope to be able to do that.” Enough payments will likely have been made by then to have money available for the distributions, he explained.
The board approved authorizing Edwards to make the transfers and issue the warrants without discussion by an 11-0 vote. Member Shane Rogers didn’t attend the meeting.
In other votes Tuesday, the board:
-- Appropriated $200,000 of the county’s share of state motor fuel tax funds for right-of-way acquisition for the new Interstate 57 interchange being built north of Mattoon. The right-of-way is along County Road 1000N, which will be upgraded as an access road from the interstate to Ill. Route 130 in the eastern part of the county. The allocation is supposed to let the county finish buying right-of-way for the access road.
-- Allocated $7,000 as the county’s share of the cost to repair a bridge in southwest East Oakland Township. The county is paying half the cost and the township is paying the rest.
-- Renewed the county’s participation in a first-time home buyer program. The board has to authorize a bond issue to participate in the program but there’s actually no cost to the county.
-- Appointed Rick Everett to the county housing authority to the complete the term of Max Davis, who resigned, and reappointed Charlotte Nakagawa to the commission.
-- Reappointed board Chairwoman Jan Eads to another term on the county’s public building commission.
Contact Dave Fopay at dfopay@jg-tc.com or 348-5733.
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cd wrote on Aug 15, 2007 9:25 PM: