[JHeath]

Okay, I'm not so great at math...what should we hope for if we are homeowners?

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...&TM=84983.8

1/10/2008 11:00:00 AM
Homestead Credits Due In April
County will divide $6.5M for homeowners coming from the state.

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

LA PORTE - County homeowners likely won't receive Homestead Credit Rebate Fund checks in the mail until early April, La Porte County Auditor Teresa Shuter said.

The county received more than $6.5 million Nov. 1 to be used for homeowner property tax relief. Shuter said the money is in an interest bearing account she hopes will earn enough money to cover $14,000 of the estimated $50,000 cost to the county for producing and mailing the rebate checks.

In November, the County Council provided $36,000 to cover rebate check expenses.

Before adjourning last May, the General Assembly voted to increase the homestead credit as a way of minimizing the impact of property tax increases. Instead of giving the credit on this year's tax bills, legislators mandated a separate rebate check.

In addition, they required a special notice be included with the rebate, making it clear it was provided by the Indiana General Assembly.

Added to the financial cost of delivering the tax relief to county homeowners, the process has required considerable employee time.

"We're creating a special tax system for 29,930 parcels," Shuter said. "We're working out a system to get these out just as soon as we can."

Once property tax payments have been received Friday, Shuter will work with County Treasurer Ken Layton to calculate the rebate amount to be given to each property owner with a homestead deduction.

Shuter said Low and Associates are providing tax and financial software to computerize rebate amounts.

Shuter and Layton will eliminate property owners who owe back taxes or have a tax judgment against them. Individual checks will be printed with the required notice on the back and then mailed at county expense.

Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Southsider2k12]

For most of us, not much. I am sure it is tied to homevaluation.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Exactly how can we divine what our homestead exemption is?

[Southsider2k12]

If your property taxes get paid by your mortgage company, do they still mail you a property tax bill? I still haven't gotten one yet.

[JHeath]

I don't remember getting one, and that's how ours are paid (through the mortgage).
I'd say to check your account and see if anything has been paid from escrow.

[kharris]

If your property taxes get paid by your mortgage company, do they still mail you a property tax bill? I still haven't gotten one yet.

If you pay the taxes through your mortgage company, they will get the bill and you should receive an annual statement from them stating what your taxes paid were. If you want a copy of that bill, I would say go to the treasurers office and they should be able to supply a copy for you.

[Ang]

Just don't ask Carol McDaniel. She probably wouldn't know what it is.

[Southsider2k12]

If you pay the taxes through your mortgage company, they will get the bill and you should receive an annual statement from them stating what your taxes paid were. If you want a copy of that bill, I would say go to the treasurers office and they should be able to supply a copy for you.

Thanks for the info.

Just don't ask Carol McDaniel. She probably wouldn't know what it is.

Nah, I'll just ask CCR, he seems to ahve a better handle on it...

[Dave]

Nah, I'll just ask CCR, he seems to ahve a better handle on it...

We need to draft CCR into running for county assessor next time around!

[Roger Kaputnik]

I called and got it all! Once again, CBTL comes through. Homestead is 45,000 plus 3,000 mortgage credits, for total 48,000.