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.

Auditor Federer suggests taking advantage of the new cost-saving and hassle free option for purchasing dog tags on-line. “Feedback from the on-line surveys has been extremely positive,” Federer said. “We’ve received many comments on how quick and easy it is to purchase the tags on-line.” Simply access the Auditor’s website at www.clarkcountyauditor.org and then click on “Dog Tags”. You will then be directed to a link to complete the application and purchase the tag via a secure site. The fee for the basic tag is $20.00 plus an on-line convenience fee and associated postage. Kennel owners may also purchase their kennel licenses on-line ($100.00 plus convenience fee and postage). Owners will receive their tags via return mail within approximately 14 days. Additionally, owners utilizing this option may sign-up for annual email notifications to renew their licenses.

Owners may also purchase their tags in person at the Clark County Auditor’s Office, 31 N. Limestone Street, Springfield, or at other remote locations. Please see the Auditor’s website for a listing of locations. For more information, please contact the Auditor’s Office at (937) 521-1864.

The following are this year’s winners:

1^st Place Winner is Gabrielle Limes and her dog, Luther.  Gabrielle is a 4^th grade student at Northwestern Elementary.  Gabrielle will receive the “#1” heart-shaped 2012 Clark County dog tag, along with prizes for her dog.

2^nd Place Winner is a 5^th grade student at Snowhill School, Olivia Jenkins and her dog Gracie.  Olivia will receive the “#2” heart-shaped 2012 Clark County dog tag.

3^rd Place Winner is Emma Ervin and her dog Bandit.  Emma, a 3^rd grade student at Rolling Hills Elementary, will receive the “#3” heart-shaped 2012 Clark County tag.

“I want to thank all of the students, family members and teachers who participated in the contest,” Federer said.  “Remember, in order to save time and money, go to the Auditor’s website at http://clarkcounty.dogtaglicense.com/ to order your 2012 dog tags on line.”

The tags may be purchased by going to the Auditor’s website at http://clarkcounty.dogtaglicense.com/.    The fee for the basic tag is $20.00 plus an on-line convenience fee and associated postage.  Dog tags of various other shapes are also available through the website.  Kennel owners may also renew their kennel licenses on-line ($100.00 plus convenience fee and postage).  Owners will receive their tags via return mail within approximately 14 days.  Additionally, owners utilizing this option may sign-up for annual email notifications to renew the license.

“We pride ourselves on the ability to offer this cost-saving and convenient option to our County’s pet owners,” Federer said.  “It will save time, gas and may eliminate the inconvenience of standing in a long line while waiting to purchase a dog tag.  We are excited to introduce this technology to Clark County.”

Dog tags will be available for sale from December 1 – January 31 without a penalty.  Unless it is for a newly acquired dog, tags purchased February 1 or after will be subject to a late fee.  All dogs over three months old and that have been owned for more than 30 days are required to be licensed by the State of Ohio.

Owners may also purchase their tags in person at the Clark County Auditor’s Office, 31 N. Limestone Street, Springfield, or at other remote locations.  Please see the Auditor’s website for a listing of locations.  For information, please contact the Auditor’s Office at (937) 521-1864.

“Top Dog Contest”
c/o John S. Federer
Clark County Auditor
P. O. Box 1325
Springfield, OH  45501

Entries may also be hand-delivered to the Auditor’s Office at 31 N. Limestone Street, Springfield. Entries must be received by 4 p.m. November 21, 2011.  The dog and student must live in Clark County and only one entry per student will be accepted.

The “Top Dog” selected will receive the “#1” heart-shaped dog tag along with prizes for their dog.  The 2^nd and 3^rd place dogs selected will be awarded the “#2 and #3” heart-shaped dog tags. 

“I am proud to continue this tradition for the youth of Clark County who take pride in their pets and the responsibilities associated with pet ownership,” Federer said.  “Our judges look forward to reviewing all contestants’ pictures.  This should be a fun and exciting time for all involved.”

For questions or information, please contact Jill Roller at (937) 521-1864.

Notice is hereby given to all concerned that the following forfeited tracts, lots, and parts of lots are offered for sale subject to all liens and encumbrances, except for liens for real estate taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest for which the lien was foreclosed and in satisfaction of which the property is to be sold.

Starting at 10:00 a.m. on August 16, 2011 on the Court House steps, the following parcels will be sold:

August 2011 Listing

Note: If no bid is received for any of the tracts in an amount sufficient to pay the amount required by law, the sale shall continue from day to day thereafter, each day at 10:00 a.m. on the Court House steps, until August 19, 2011 or until the county auditor has disposed of or offered each tract of land specified in notice.

During this phase, locally hired data collectors will go door to door, collecting information about each property such as age, type of basement, number of rooms, baths, type of heat, and anything that is unique to the building. At a later phase, professional appraisers analyze the data collected and establish the estimated fair market value using all the information gathered.

“The data that supports this valuation is most important to insure a quality outcome. I am pleased that we are able to hire local citizens to assist the office in this important process to the taxpayers of Clark County,” Auditor John Federer said.

All data collectors and other field personnel are trained professionals and can be identified by ID badges, which must be visible. All project personnel have also submitted personal and vehicle information that is listed with local law enforcement and the Auditor’s office.

Assessment notices will be mailed near the end of the reappraisal. Taxes based on the new assessment will not be due until 2014. Ohio law offers property owners the opportunity to appeal their property valuations. Information about the appeals process will be included with the new value for each property.

Auditor Federer encourages residents to visit the offices’ website to assist in the process of ensuring accurate data of their property. Go to www.clarkcountyauditor.org and click on the
“Dwelling Card Info” to complete the questionnaire.

Clark County hired Tyler Technologies’ CLT Appraisal Services to conduct the reappraisal project. Tyler’s CLT Appraisal Services is a highly respected, reliable company that has been a pioneer in the mass appraisal profession since 1938.

Homeowners who turn 65 at any point in 2011 or are permanently disabled are eligible for the Homestead Exemption Program and are encouraged to sign up with the Clark County Auditor.  Enrollment is now open until Monday, June 6^th.  Applications are available in the Auditor’s office or by calling 521-1862 or online at www.clarkcountyauditor.org.

Homeowners who wish to apply for the 2 ½% Owner-Occupied tax reduction must file an application with the Auditor’s Office by June 6, 2011.  “I want to work with the taxpayer base to make sure that they don’t have to pay more in taxes than they need to”, Clark County Auditor John Federer said.   Applications are available in the Auditor’s office or by calling 521-1880 or online at www.clarkcountyauditor.org.

The Clark County Auditor is pleased to share with the taxpayers that the County is continually working to maintain the highest standards in financial reporting, and recognizes Finance Director, Dave Crew, as a recipient of the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

The GFOA established the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program (CAFR) in 1945 to encourage and assist state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare comprehensive financial reports that evidence the “spirit of full disclosure” to the taxpayers and to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal. Reports submitted to the CAFR program are reviewed by individuals with expertise in public-sector financial reporting and includes independent auditors, academics and other financial professionals. “I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication of the employees in the Auditor’s office”, Federer said. “This achievement is a direct benefit to the taxpayers in the form of better bond rating which will lower interest rates and save the County hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is not the case in other Ohio counties!”

The purpose of this community-wide public request is to ask each property owner to complete an updated “Dwelling Information Card”.

Click here to learn more about the process and get started