Friday, September 16, 2005

Blaine County levy rates to reduce tax per dollar

Utility judgment not passed on to taxpayers


By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer

The Blaine County Commission approved taxing district levy rates Monday and taxpayers can expect to pay less for every $100,000 of valuation.

For example Hailey taxpayers will pay about 16 percent less than last year, paying $137.02 per $100,000 compared to $163.65 the year before.

The new rates are used to calculate property taxes that go to meet 2005-2006 budgets for the various taxing districts county in the county.

"At this point we are sending (the levy rates) to the state to be certified," said Blaine County Clerk Marsha Riemann.

County Treasurer Vicki Dick disburses the money to the taxing districts once payments are received.

"Each taxing district turns in a levy," Riemann said. "We type up a levy sheet. It is approved by the board. Now, the treasurer can calculate the taxes."

Taxes are due on Dec. 20 and June 20. The treasurer sends what she collects to each taxing district. Individual tax bills will be mailed after the state certifies the levies and the treasurer calculates the taxes.

Before the county approved the levy rates there was discussion about whether the county would try to recover $66,300 it paid this year to compensate Qwest and Idaho Power for being over assessed in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

The public utilities won a judgment against the county after appealing to the state tax commission. In the judgment the county is permitted to recover the money in an additional tax, but the board chose not to exercise the opportunity to pass the cost on to the public.

"The county is taking the loss instead of trying to recover it," Riemann said.

2005 Levy Rate Comparison

Tax District 2005 Levy Rate Per $100,000 value

Hailey

.001370249 $137.02

Ketchum

.000974729 $97.47

Sun Valley

.001313851 $131.38
Carey .001341926 $134.20

Bellevue

.000727464 $72.75
Tax District 2004 Levy Rate Per $100,000 value

Hailey

.001636459 $163.65

Ketchum

.00161766 $161.77

Sun Valley

.001557621 $155.76
Carey .001375952 $137.60

Bellevue

.000992077 $99.21




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