TAX NEWS - 2010

Indiana Tax: Floyd County property tax bills to be mailed soon

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance has approved local government budgets and set property tax rates for Floyd County, meaning that property tax bills will be mailed soon.

The county's tax rates will be slightly higher than last year, particularly in New Albany, said Mary Jane Michalak, the state agency's chief of staff.

That's in part because a mistake in calculating assessed values last year gave property owners an unplanned break on their bills. This year, the city will be allowed to make up that loss.

"If everything goes as planned, they (tax bills) could be out in the next three weeks," Floyd County Treasurer Linda Berger said Friday. "Our due date (for the first of two installments) will probably be at the end of July or in August."

Until then, the state offers taxpayers a bill calculator available online at http://www.in.gov/dlgf/4932.htm. Taxpayers will need their property's assessed value, deductions and taxing district to use the tool.

The bills will be mailed roughly three months earlier than last year, although still later than the dates set by state law. Floyd County's second installment will be due Nov. 10, the date called for in the law.

Berger said by next year, the county hopes to be on track with the first installments of tax bills due in May and second in November.

"It's taken three years to catch up" from state changes in assessments and taxation that pushed most counties behind, Berger said. "Hopefully next year will be a normal year."

The Department of Local Government Finance - the state agency that reviews local budgets and approves tax rates - has been pushing local officials to catch up, and 85 counties mailed their spring bills on time this year.

The Floyd County budget order, approved Friday, is the state's last duty before tax bills can be mailed. County officials will now use the state data to prepare the tax bills and apply credits and deductions.