Clark County Auditor George Sodders is making his Geographical Information System (GIS) available to promote enhanced public safety to the residents of Clark County.  Auditor Sodders is partnering with Sheriff Gene Kelly and Director Lisa D’Allesandris of EMA to accomplish this effort. 

I’m excited to be part of Clark County’s Wide Area Rapid Notification (WARN) System. Our GIS is critical to the operation of this early warning system,” Sodders said.  The WARN system utilizes the property locations that are currently managed by this department.

“In addition, our GIS department will be maintaining the data that will be entered by the end-user in the development of the early-warning notification database,” according to Sodders.

“In order for us to update your information in our database, I ask all citizens to visit my web page at www.clarkcountyauditor.org and enter your primary phone number(s).”

 “Early warning capability is increasingly becoming a necessary part of local communities. We want to ensure the safety of all our citizens.”

The depressed local economy continues to impact the county’s budget, causing revenues to fall short during the first quarter of 2010, according to Clark County Auditor George Sodders.

“The county’s budget estimates for 2010 may require mid-year adjustments if the local economy doesn’t begin showing signs of recovery,” Sodders said. “Our sales tax revenue is down almost 2% from the same quarter last year, while the value of new housing permits plummeted almost 31%, and the value of commercial permits declined 21.5%,” Sodders explained. 

“In addition, the number of taxable property transfers is down, and fees collected from those transfers remain stagnate. Sales tax and fees are vital sources of revenue for the county,” Sodders said. The county’s unemployment rate remains above state and national levels. “Until we see growth in our employment numbers, the local economy will remain a drag on the county’s revenues,” Sodders concluded.

Homeowners and other property owners who want to know how much a new tax levy will cost them can now find out on the county auditor’s web page at www.clarkcountyauditor.org, according to George Sodders, Clark County Auditor.

“Our new proposed levy calculator was developed in response to property owners who wanted to know how much a new tax levy would cost them if it is approved by voters. Taxpayers are normally told how much a levy will cost based on a $100,000 home value. With this new calculator, property owners can now calculate the cost based on the value of their individual property. The calculator was developed to assist all property owners who have proposed tax levies on the ballot,” Sodders said.

“We have also developed a tax estimator that can be used to calculate estimated taxes based on the taxing district in which a property is located. This estimator will assist both developers and others who might be locating to our county,” Sodders said.

The updated web page also now includes city and county combined geographical information map layers, including city and county enterprise zones, fire and EMS locations, sewer and water lines, and street and traffic lights, according to Sodders.

“I encourage all taxpayers to visit our web page at www.clarkcountyauditor.org to learn more about the many services that are provided,” Sodders said.

According to Clark County Auditor George Sodders, new foreclosure filings in Clark County dropped from 1,124 in 2008 to 1,104 in 2009, a modest 1.8% decline.  The most recent data was compiled by the Ohio Supreme Court.   During the same period, statewide filings increased from 85,773 to 89,053, a 3.8% climb.

 Among Ohio’s 88 counties, Morgan County recorded the highest percentage increase in foreclosure filings at 129.7%, while Allen County’s dropped 30.7%.

 In surrounding counties, Montgomery foreclosures dropped 9.5%;  Madison jumped 37.9%;  Greene increased 10.1%; and Champaign climbed 24.2%.

New foreclosure filings in Clark County have fluctuated between a low of 925 in 2005 to a high of 1,124 in 2008. Statewide filings have increased every year since 2005, ranging from 63,996 to 89,053.

Clark County Auditor George Sodders is spearheading the use of credit cards to make payments via the web for licensing fees, utility bills and other payments that are approved by county departments.

Sodders recommended to county commissioners the adoption of a resolution giving departments the option to accept credit card payments.

“I think this is a real convenience for taxpayers and there is no additional cost to the county for providing this service,” Sodders said. “In addition, these services are proven to be safe and secure for taxpayers, and there is no hassle with returned checks,” Sodders explained.

Upon the recommendation of Sodders, County Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution today, paving the way to solicit bids from potential providers.

Clark County Auditor George Sodders is partnering with Springfield City to eliminate duplication of services provided by their geographical information systems (GIS). Sodders said that the county will provide hosting services for the city’s geographical system, which includes both city and county enterprise zones, traffic lights, street lights, all locations of fire and EMS stations, water hydrants, and sewer and water lines. The joint effort will provide one-stop shopping for users. Sodders said that the elimination of duplication will boost the county’s economic development initiatives. “Today, our GIS system is utilized by developers, local and national businesses and industries looking to locate or expand operations in the county, and the Community Improvement Corporation,” Sodders said.

Sodders explained that he is also enhancing the system to include scanned sewer construction images for the city, a search for lost dogs, a tax estimator for property owners, and new street level imagery for property owners, developers, realtors, and law enforcement.

Sodders states, “These are times of great challenge to those in public service. With shrinking resources to meet growing demands, we must continue to find ways to operate more efficiently to reduce costs, while maintaining a high level of basic services to all our citizens.”

“In the auditor’s office, we have pursued initiatives to streamline operations to hold down operating costs. At the same time, we have aggressively sought to acquire and implement the latest technology that not only make us more efficient, but also makes government more transparent,” Sodders said.

“Our new web page gives citizens access to all the public information maintained by our office. Never before in the history of Clark County has access to financial data, real estate property records, and government documents been more readily available to the public,” Sodders said.

“Not only do our citizens have greater access to public records in the auditor’s office, they have greater access to me and other public servants working in my office. My web page lists names, phone numbers and email addresses that make contact with our office simple and easy, explained Sodders.

“While I am tempted to boast about change, transparency and past achievements, I remain committed to the constant reexamination of operating procedures that promote efficiency and reduce costs. Taxpayers demand and deserve the very best from their public servants. And that’s exactly what I will continue to give them,” Sodders concluded.

Clark County Auditor George Sodders has announced completion of the 2009 preliminary equalization of property values and the beginning of an open-book period for review by taxpayers. Sodders stated that “in consideration of the softening real estate market during 2007 and 2008, we have reviewed values and have identified some properties requiring a downward adjustment.”

“We have posted on our web page the values of parcels that have changed. If your value does not appear on the changed list, then your value for 2009 will be the same as it was for 2008, excepting for new construction or other changes to the property. I encourage property owners to visit our web page at www.clarkcountyauditor.org to review your changed value. If you have questions, please call us at 521-1878 or email appraisal@clarkcountyohio.gov.,” Sodders said.

“Our open-book period for taxpayer review and discussion will continue until November 6th,” Sodders concluded.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the County Auditor of Clark County, Ohio as required by Section 5721.03 of the Revised Code of Ohio, that on the 14th day of October, 2009 and the 21st day of October, 2009, the Delinquent Land Tax List will be published in the Springfield News-Sun, a newspaper of general circulation in Clark County.

This list will contain the names of owners of all lands upon which the real estate taxes, assessments, recoupment charges, penalties and interest, or either, remain unpaid at the August 2009 tax settlement, and still remain unpaid.

An interest charge will accrue on accounts remaining unpaid after the last day of November 2009 unless the taxpayer enters a written Delinquent Contract to pay such taxes in installments.

Installment payments may be made in accordance with a written Delinquent Contract with the Clark County Treasurer.

Installment payments WILL NOT prevent the publication of the balance of unpaid taxes, assessments, recoupment charges, penalties and interest.

PREVENTION OF PUBLICATION

Payment of taxes, assessments, recoupment charges, interest and penalties, IN FULL, if made no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 9th day of October, 2009 will eliminate those land owners names from publication on October 14, 2009, and payments made no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 16th day of October, 2009 will prevent publication on October 21, 2009.

GEORGE A. SODDERS

County Auditor, Clark County, Ohio

Clark County Auditor George Sodders says he won’t wait until next year’s state mandated triennial update to property values to conduct an analysis of changing local market conditions. “There is considerable evidence of significant changes in the Clark County real estate market during 2007 and 2008 that indicates a need to equalize real estate values throughout the county,” Sodders said.

“There was much controversy surrounding the revaluation of real estate required by the state for values effective on January 1, 2007. Needless-to-say, those values reflected market conditions that existed prior to slumping values in home prices starting in 2007. Misinformation, ax grinding, and just plain old political posturing left taxpayers confused about their property values,” Sodders explained.

“Our options are to either wait until the mandated Ohio triennial update in 2010 or adjust values now to reflect changing market conditions over the past two years. I have chosen not to wait because we have the resources to act now, and we should,” Sodders said.

“Our investment in technology, including a computer-assisted mass appraisal (CAMA) system enables us to respond more quickly to changing markets. In addition, we have integrated our CAMA system with our geographical information (GIS) system, including aerial and street-level photography. We now have all the tools to more economically pursue and achieve property tax equity for all property owners in our county,” Sodders emphasized.