Total collections up almost 6 percent

Second half tax collections are up 10 percent over this time last year, according to County Treasurer Stephen Burcham.

Taxes due July 15 brought in $10,019,924 compared to $9,095,284 for the second half of 2010, Burcham told the county commission at its regular Thursday meeting.

That makes the total for 2011 at $25,538,150 compared to $24,199,612 or 5.5 percent more this year than last. However the recent countywide evaluation increased property values 9 percent.

“A lot of people are struggling to make their tax payment,” Burcham said.

More taxpayers are beginning to set up contracts where they can pay delinquent taxes with a monthly deduction through their checking accounts.

“And you can budget for future payments,” he said.

Payment plans can be set up after taxes become delinquent or before next year’s taxes are due, the treasurer said. Also tax payments can be made with a credit card.

Since July there has been $298,182 in taxes collected through contracts and $52,054 by credit cards.

“A lot of people are on monthly payment plans,” Burcham said. “We are glad to make it easier to make their tax obligation.”

Commissioners also hired Tom Brammer at $15 an hour for a 40-hour work week for three months to complete the ongoing Land Base Response Systems for the 911 service. The state will reimburse 80 percent of his salary.

The project is to verify each address in the county for accuracy and to make sure there are no duplicate addresses for any residential or commercial location.

Brammer, who will receive no health insurance benefits, will correct those duplicate addresses. There are about 6 percent of the 27,000 addresses in the county that may be incorrect.

“There are still some (incorrect) addresses out there,” Les Boggs, commission president, said. “This is one person who can go out physically and correct those addresses.”

If the county can reach 98 percent accuracy in mapping addresses, the state will reimburse it $75,000 for the project, once it is in acceptable format.

In other action the commission:

• Accepted the resignation of Cindy Carver from the county’s EMS effective Aug. 8, 2011;

• Awarded the bid for this year’s resurfacing contract of $1,174,750 to the Shelly Co. of Thornville;

• Approved the out of county travel for Mike Patterson, clerk of courts, to Meigs County;

• Accepted the weekly dog warden’s report where 33 dogs were destroyed; one was sold and two were redeemed by owner. There were 74 dogs in custody for the week.