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BY KRYSTIN E. KASAK
Krystin.Kasak@nwitimes.com
219.548.4353 | Friday, March 07, 2008 | (3 comment(s))
VALPARAISO | Hoping to get the tax collection schedule back on track this year, the Porter County Council has decided to hire two consultants to help the county auditor and assessors.
After last year's property tax bills were nearly seven months late, the council employed an independent consultant to review each department's work and recommend actions to avoid a similar situation.
The consultant's final report indicated the county's top priorities should be finalizing the new computer software, completing this year's trending and gaining approval for the tax abstract, which details the final breakdown of taxes.
At a special meeting on Thursday, the council took action on the report and unanimously voted to hire two consultants to help with the tasks. Officials approved transferring $37,000 from the commissioners budget to fund one of the consultants, while the county's reassessment fund will pay for the second one, at $35,000.
"Hopefully we'll be back on track by November," council President Bob Poparad said.
Consultant Beth Henkel, who completed the report, said one of the most pressing issues is integrating the new tax assessment software. The software was a topic of much debate last fall, when officials couldn't agree on which vendor to use. The county went with Hamer Enterprises.
Henkel's report said she initially recommended that the county use a different vendor until Hamer could be certified by the state. Henkel, however, said Tuesday that officials have been in discussions with the vendor and are working out the final agreement. The report recommends that a consultant analyze the situation and advise on further action.
The report also advised using the accounting firm of Crowe Chizek in the auditor's office. The firm will help sort out recent problems with tax increment financing districts and get state approval for the abstract, which will allow the office to move forward with settlements and rebate checks.
Henkel said it would be difficult for the auditor's office to perform the steps by itself due to "consistency problems." Henkel said because of the still-changing state rules on the procedures, employing someone who has prior experience with the procedures will help speed up the process and avoid late bills.
"We're trying to save time and money by having it done right the first time," Henkel said.
Township assessors also will get help from a consultant, who will assist with the trending work on commercial and industrial properties.
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OMG...there goes more $$$... wrote on Mar 7, 2008 8:15 AM:
Henry wrote on Mar 7, 2008 6:19 AM:
Typical Democratic leadership. "
Jim wrote on Mar 7, 2008 5:33 AM: