“Our own space shuttle”

10. May 2009 by admin.

Indiana has been mandating changes to the way some its counties do their property tax billing, and that has meant new software for many.  “The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, which approves certified budgets for taxing units and sets tax rates, expects 35 to 40 counties, including Vanderburgh and Warrick, to establish May or June due dates for the spring installment. Vanderburgh County officials expect to announce a mid-June due date soon.

Gibson County has requested a June 12 due date, while Posey County works to catch up with this year’s billing while finishing up last year’s billing cycle. It was delayed when the county was ordered to conduct a reassessment.  Five counties are yet to have their ratio studies — a comparison between sales and assessed values to ensure market values are being used to determine assessed values — approved by the Department of Local Government Finance, a step that should have been completed a year ago.

The state agency and county officials across the state attribute the delays to widespread software conversion, data compliance and reassessment issues. Responding to a state mandate that it switch to a certified property tax billing system, Vanderburgh County has been undergoing what Treasurer Rick Davis calls a “drastic and severe” conversion since January. Other counties received similar mandates.

“What we had before was a Model T; what we’ve got now is a space shuttle,” Davis said. “It’s taken months of very diligent work (to make the conversion).” - from Indiana Courier Press.

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