First half Real Estate tax bills are being sent out and the Clark County Auditor’s office is ready for the thousands of questions that taxpayers have concerning their bill. “Every time bills are sent out, calls start funneling in asking questions as to why their bill is different” said John S. Federer, Clark County Auditor. This time will be no different. Property owners in Clark County will pay higher taxes than they did for the same period last year because voters supported social service and park board levies. The cumulative effect of those levies passed will cost, on average, residential property owners an additional $92.87 per $100,000 in value according to the Clark County Auditor’s data.
Homeowners of a $100,000 valued home will owe $482.86 in taxes for county agencies in the coming year. In 2010, the amount owed was $389.99 for that same $100,000 value. These figures include only county-wide levies and not levies for libraries, schools or other local needs.
Children Services (DJFS) and the Clark County Park District account for $126.00 or 26.09% of the county’s current year total property tax bill for that homeowner, again excluding libraries, schools and other local needs.
Clark County Treasurer, Stephen T. Metzger, mailed out property tax bills for 2012 last week to 44,480 homeowners who do not have their property taxes rolled into an escrow account.
An additional 19,750 property tax bills were sent to banks and other escrow agents for the homeowner. Those homeowners can check their taxes due by looking them up by their address, using the Clark County Auditor’s website, www.clarkcountyauditor.org.
Ohio State law requires the tax bills to be sent no later than 20 days before they are due. Clark County’s due date for the first half year payment is February 10, 1012. The second half payment is due July 13, 2012.
The Auditor’s office establishes the values for taxation, the Treasurer’s office is responsible for collection of taxes and the State of Ohio, Department of Taxation sets all property tax rates. As property values increase and/or decrease, levies are adjusted and can be reduced or charged the full millage based on the value trends in the marketplace. If property values increase, the Ohio Department of Taxation rolls back voter approved property tax rates to prevent agencies from gaining a windfall. If property values decrease, the Ohio Department of Taxation will adjust accordingly the other way to insure the appropriate levies have required funding.
In the prior tax year there were 7 county-wide levies that received a reduction factor. In this tax year, there were 5 county-wide levies that received the same tax consideration.
“Our desire is to assist the homeowner in understanding their recent tax bill” explains Federer. The Auditor’s office is willing to help explain any questions resulting from your bill. We want to share why differences take place. Should you have questions, please contact the Clark County Auditor’s office, Real Estate Department, at 521-1891.