Tax Digest Delayed Further

The Jasper County Board of Assessors met for a called meeting Monday evening to learn what the status is of the tax digest, as it has been delayed numerous times because of the ramifications of House Bill 581.

Chief Appraiser Lynn Bentley called the meeting so her board would be up to date on the latest information. She talked about going to CAVEAT, a training taken by both staff and board members. After that she said she began entering the new construction on the books to prepare to send tax assessments. She and her staff spent two weeks doing that.

Then, they learned that certain new construction is not to be taxed this year. While waiting for more direction from the Department of Revenue, they began entering the new values on the website. She said each property will now have three values…fair market value, base value and homestead value.

Then she learned last week that the DOR plans to send new recommendations “within the next few weeks.” All the taxing authorities in the county are waiting on the digest, which is true throughout the state. Some have set theirs, and have encountered problems, and most, like Jasper, are waiting for more direction.

Ms. Bentley pointed out that they have learned there are numerous attorneys sitting on go to file a class action lawsuit on the new values if they aren’t done correctly according to the new legislation.

One piece that passed was the law saying not to tax new construction (48-5-44.2)

So the board voted to instruct the staff to remove the new consturction values that had already been added.

The group will meet again on July 28, and hope that by that time the digest will be closer to ready.