[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2010/0...d0888962321.txt

Provisional property tax bills should reflect slight decrease

By Alicia Ebaugh
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 4:14 AM CDT
LA PORTE — Many county residents will find a slight decrease in their property tax bills for 2010 when provisional bills are sent starting the first week of June, County Treasurer Nancy Hawkins said.

In 90 counties, including La Porte, property tax bills will be capped at 1 percent of assessed value for homeowners, 2 percent for landlords and 3 percent for businesses. Total property tax savings for homeowners this year should average $50 to $150, according to state tax calculators.

This is the third year of provisional billing for La Porte County property owners. Property tax bills have been issued provisionally in La Porte County due to the fight over 2006-pay-2007 assessed property values, Hawkins said.

“They’ve been a mirror image of past bills, except this one will show the new reductions for those who qualify,” Hawkins said.

Since the provisional bills are being calculated from 2005-pay-2006 assessed property values, she said, property owners may face additional payments for those years once the county’s lawsuits are settled.

Tax payments will be due July 9 and Nov. 10. Payments received after those dates will incur a 10 percent penalty. The penalty will be reduced to 5 percent if the payment is made within the first 30 days after the due date.