Starke County’s 2016 budget order and tax rates have received final state approval. Last month’s certification of both by the Department of Local Government Finance paves the way for on-time property tax bills. Starke County taxes are due May 10th.
DLGF officials say the certification of the budget order allows local governments to better plan for their operations in 2016 based on the approved budget and anticipated revenue figures.
The first step in the process is the completion of property assessments. It culminates with the submission of a ratio study. It’s a comparison between property sale prices and assessed values in the county to ensure market values are being used to determine assessed values. These are typically submitted to the state and approved by May 31st the year prior to tax billing. Starke County’s ratio study was submitted on May 15, 2015.
After the state approves the ratio study, the assessor sends the gross assessed values to the county auditor, who applies exemptions, deductions or abatements to determine the net assessed values. Those are the amounts on which tax rates are based. Starke County’s certified net assessed values were submitted on Aug. 17, 2015.
Now that the DLGF has certified the 2016 county budget, the next steps are handled at the county level. The auditor is to calculate tax bills, which the treasurer should mail to taxpayers no later than April 19, 2016.
Visit http://in.gov/dlgf/4108.htm?WT.cg_n=reportslinks&WT.cg_s=starkecounty for more information about Starke County taxes.
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