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County Closing In On Sales Data Compliance
(posted Dec 13)
Marion County is non-compliant with its 2005 sales data, according to Mary
Jane Michalak, Department of Local Government Finance communication director.
The critical data that includes sales prices, buyers and sellers names,
and taxing districts was missing in 807 records out of 26,583. That accounts
for three percent of the records.
Marion County Assessor Greg Bowes said his office is trying to update the
data to be compliant. He said the problem with non-compliant data started
before his tenure in office which began this year. He said
counties often ignored the proper filing of sales disclosure by electronic
filing and much of the data remained on paper where it was initially taken.
The new commissioner of the DLGF is now enforcing the rules that the data
must be filed properly using the e-form. He said the data is about 87 percent
compliant now and they are continuing to correct it because the DLGF's
acceptable rate is 90 percent. "We are very close," he said.
He said once the 2005 sales data is compliant, the office will tackle the 2004 sales and then personal property. Although much of the blame for property taxes was placed on the assessors, Bowes indicated that is just a small piece of the problem. The areas that impacted property taxes the most were child welfare, loss of inventory tax, reduction in property tax replacement, and homestead percent increase in school districts
He recognized that the DLGF has the power to block future bonding issues.
Because the data was not compliant, Speedway Parks and Recreation's request
to bond for parks improvement was denied by the DLGF.
Michalak explained that once the county is compliant, Speedway can resubmit
the application as long as there are no changes. If approved, the bond
would be issued in 2008 with a 2009 tax rate.
Bowes expects the data gathering to become more efficient with the new
county wide software integrated system that is being implemented. The new
software will allow for better data flow better between the auditor's office,
building permit section, treasurer, and township assessors.
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