Starke County Democratic Chairman Lonnie Boley has called two party Caucus events for tonight (Monday, July 22) to fill vacant seats for two county positions.
Continue readingTwo Democratic Caucus Events Set for Tonight
Starke County Council Discusses Additional Appropriation Resolution
The Starke County Council members discussed an additional appropriation resolution Monday night.
Starke County Commissioners to Consider Credit Card Use for Starke County Community Corrections
The Starke County Commissioners approved the use of a debit card for Starke County Community Corrections, but it turns out it can’t be used after all.
Open Seats in Starke County for 2018 Elections
According to Starke County Election Deputy Clerk Crystal McCarty-Taylor, people can file for a declaration of candidacy starting today anytime between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and they have until February 9th at noon to file.
Interested individuals must come into the Starke County Clerk’s Office to file. She added that no exceptions will be made if the February deadline is missed.
Officials up for election in Starke County include the County Sheriff, Assessor, Coroner, Recorder and Auditor as well as the Prosecuting Attorney and Circuit Court Clerk. Elections will also be held for the County Commissioners in District 2 which includes California, Center and Davis Townships. Continue reading
Peddler’s Permits Required to Sell Items
The Starke County Sheriff’s Department has received several calls about two men going door-to-door selling magazines.
Officials told WKVI News that the individuals were asked to go to the county auditor’s office to obtain a peddler’s permit to sell the items. A resident has the right to ask a salesman for a peddler’s permit before any sales pitch is made or before any transaction is final.
Starke County Auditor Encourages Verifying Your Homestead Deduction
With the new year quickly approaching, tax season isn’t far behind, and that means Hoosiers are preparing for the chore of filing their tax information – but many may not have realized that in order to receive their Homestead Deduction, they have to file a claim.
The Starke County Auditor’s Office said yesterday that if you haven’t verified your home since 2009, you will have to refile for the deduction.
Starke County Councilwoman Defends Treasurer in Audit
Starke County Councilwoman, Judy Benninghoff, still believes that the errors reported in the Treasurer’s office by the State Board of Accounts are actually errors in the Auditor’s office. In a release to WKVI, Benninghoff said that is backed up by an official in the State Board of Accounts.
“I called the State Board of Accounts and I spoke to Debbie Gibson, and she told me that the paragraph that was inserted in the Treasurer’s audit had nothing to do with the Treasurer,” said Benninghoff. “That pertained only to the Auditor. So, where it says that ‘beginning in March 2010 and continuing through 2011, there was a failure to post the entries pertaining to the remittance of various payroll withholdings’, that was true. That withholding fund is with the Auditor’s office, not in the Treasurer’s office.”
Starke County Treasurer’s Books almost Balanced
The discrepancies in the Treasurer’s office have almost been solved. It was reported at this week’s Starke County Commissioners meeting that the Treasurer’s balance, and bank balance were in sync within pennies. The figures came from the monthly 47TR report given to the commissioners.
“The 47TR form is basically the form that compares our Treasurer’s balance to the bank balance to the Auditor’s balance,” explained Commission President, Dan Bridegroom. “The Auditor’s balance will be somewhat different than the Treasurer’s because of how the funds are received. In the bottom line, that form out of the Treasurer’s Office should balance with our bank. That is where we had the huge discrepancy of almost $900,000 and that’s what led us to where we are today. As of Tuesday of last week, the Auditor, Kay Chaffins, and Casey in the Treasurer’s Office have got that down to somewhere around $.33 and they will find that portion of that also.”
DLGF Certifies Starke County’s Budget Order and Tax Rate
The Department of Local Government Finance certified Starke County’s 2011 budget order and tax rates on December 21st, paving the way for on-time property tax bills for the second year in a row. The budget certification put the county in a position to have taxes due on May 10th, 2011. Starke County was the 28th county in the State to receive its 2011 budget order and tax rates.
Starke County Auditor Michaelene Houston Leaves Auditor’s Office after 22 Years
It is the end of an era in the Starke County Auditor’s office. Michaelene Houston spent 22 years either as a Deputy Auditor, or Auditor herself. She served as Deputy Auditor under Pam Fletcher and Mike Haugh.
“November 30th, 1984, I started as Deputy Auditor for Pam Fletcher and I worked for her for two years and one month and then Mike Haugh became Auditor and I worked for him for four years,” explained Michaelene Houston. “I then ran for the office and I was Auditor for two terms. I couldn’t run for a third consecutive term so I ran for Commissioner and I was Commissioner for four years. Then I ran for Auditor again and now I’m on my second and final term as Auditor.”
Starke County Property Owners Need to File for Property Tax Deductions
Starke County Auditor, Michaelene Houston, reminds property owners that they have until the end of the year to file for property tax deductions.
Deduction applications must be completed and dated by December 31st, 2010 and filed with the Auditor’s office for the taxpayer to receive the eligible deductions on 2011 property tax bills. In addition to meeting all other eligibility requirements for the desired deductions, the applicant for the deduction must own or be buying the property under contract on the date the application is filed in order to receive the deduction.
Specific questions about property tax deduction eligibility should be directed to the County Auditor’s office. Call 772-9101, 772-9102, 772-9103 or 772-9104 for assistance.
