Sending out tax bills costs the village thousands of dollars every year, but village officials say a good chunk of the cost could be cut if they paid the township to do the leg work.
At their April 12 meeting, the village council discussed the possibility of handing tax bill printing, mailing and collecting over to the township, at a cost of $5 per parcel ($7,500 total). The township would also oversee collecting penalties and interest.
Mailing both bills together could save the village around $26,000, according to new Village Treasurer Willa Smitko.
Currently, the mailing process and updating tax software costs the village $2,600 annually, Smitko said. The change would reduce a full-time village employee to part time, saving close to $32,000.
If the township collected village taxes, payment schedules would be similar, with the last day to pay extended from September 1 to September 14.
According to Village Manager Paul Zelenak, many of the details have yet to be hammered out as officials rush to make the village-township agreement by a May deadline.
‘If the savings associated with doing this does not work out, we would come back to a future meeting with that information,? said Village Manager Paul Zelenak, adding, ‘but we need to get this process moving.?
Councilmember Doug Dendel was concerned with how long the township would hold tax revenues before handing it over to the village.
But, according to Village Attorney Gary Dovre, tentative plans call for remittance ‘at least every other week.?
The item is on the village council’s May 10 agenda for public comment and possible adoption.