Land reassessment to cost county $15,000

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

When Putnam County Assessor Nancy Dennis told the County Council and Commissioners last month of the need to do land reassessments in the county, the cost was estimated to be as high as $32,000.

So on Monday when Dennis told the commissioners the cost would not exceed $15,000, the news was a bit easier to swallow.

Dennis reported last month that the land reassessment process should have started last summer, but this was not done under previous assessor Wanda O'Neal.

When Dennis learned of the need for reassessment, she was already far behind the schedule.

The plan she proposed last month was to have the county's Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals (PTABOA) perform the land reassessment. Specifically, PTABOA member Jenny Whipple estimated she can get the work done at a cost not to exceed $14,846.

"I knew we didn't have the money so I was trying to go the cheapest route," Dennis said.

Not only does this bring considerable savings to the county, it also extends the deadline for the work from July 1 to Nov. 1.

While final approval for the expenditure is the County Council's, the Commissioners gave their stamp of approval to the plan Monday, voting 3-0 to approve the plan, with the cost not to exceed $15,000.

The commissioners signed a letter to the Indiana Department of Transportation requesting a transfer of $287,100 from Bridge 10 to Bridge 146.

The Bridge 10 project has an excess of funds, so the county hopes to use the money to cover the other project.

Putnam County Economic Development Director Bill Dory also appeared before the council with the center's yearly request for funding. County funding for Economic Development comes from the county's economic development income tax (EDIT).

"I know you guys wait until later in the year to put together the EDIT plan," Dory said.

In the past, county EDIT dollars have supplied $30,000 to the center. Dory is asking for $32,000 this year. The total annual budget of the center is $127,000.

The commissioners will have to wait until they see this year's EDIT figures to approve the level of funding.

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  • My only questions for Mr. Dory are these: Of the Putnam County Economic Development's proposed budget for next year of $127,000, an increase of $2,000, what amount of the increase is attributable to your salary? and 2.) Could you publish the proposed budget in the Banner-Graphic for all taxpayers of Putnam County to view? Transparency!

    Personally, I don't think Putnam County is getting enough bang for the bucks we are spending using the EDIT funds. An empty building has been standing for how many years? This is after Mr. Dory said it was a "No Brainer" to build this speck building.

    -- Posted by Lookout on Wed, Mar 23, 2011, at 10:26 AM
  • I'm in agreement with Lookout. What does Mr.Dory have to show? er, what has he done lately?

    -- Posted by letspulltogether on Wed, Mar 23, 2011, at 8:54 PM
  • "Transparency." Pfft, thats not how "small town" government works.

    -- Posted by stranded67 on Sun, Mar 27, 2011, at 7:34 PM
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