Today's
Feature
Assessor Mails
Personal Property Forms.
News release
Donald Davis,
Jasper County Assessor, has mailed forms to
property owners for listing their personal
property, which is subject to assessment for the
2006 assessment year.
By March 1, 2006,
every owner or holder of personal property must
report, on the form provided by the assessor, all
taxable personal property which was owned or held
by the person or business on January 1, 2006.
"Every year a
few property owners forget to return their
lists," Davis said, "so we make every
effort to remind people to return them on
time."
Those not
returning a completed list to the assessor by the
March 1 deadline are subject to penalty.
"Penalties
range from $10 to $100 depending upon the value
of the property and the statutes provide the
assessor with almost no discretion to waive the
penalties," Davis said. According to the
assessor, until recently, few penalties were
applied and lists were commonly filed late. The
statutes were toughened in 1994, and compliance
with the law increased dramatically.
The assessor
advises that the best way to remember to return
the list on time and avoid a penalty is to fill
it out, sign it, and put it in the mail the same
day it is received. It is also helpful for the
property owners to copy the completed and signed
form and keep the copy with their records. If a
question arises regarding filing, the copy will
indicate that the form was completed. This year
the forms are being mailed in an envelope with a
return envelope enclosed.
Property owners or
lessees who have not received a list are not
excused from filing and should contact the
assessor for a blank form at the Jasper County
Assessor’s office, Carthage Courthouse,
telephone 417-358-0437 or 417-625-4355.
Additional
Energy Assistance Available.
News release
Mid America
Assistance Coalition (MAAC) will have an
additional $100,000 to help low-income customers
pay their energy bills beginning in January.
That money is in
addition to the more than $200,000 MGE and its
customers have given to MAAC in 2005 through the
Kansas City-based utility’s Neighbors
Helping Neighbors fund.
"We are
making these funds available now as a way to help
low-income customers who are facing high heating
bills," said Pamela Levetzow, MGE’s
Director of Customer and Government Relations.
MAAC, which
administers a variety of energy fuel funds
including MGE’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors
program, received the $100,000 contribution this
week. The assistance funds -- called Extra Help
-- will be distributed through to 34 assistance
agencies throughout MGE’s service area.
Eligibility
requirements for Extra Help funds are designed to
reach households that are not eligible for
traditional public assistance programs, such as
the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program (LIHEAP). Eligibility guidelines for
Extra Help funds are as high as 200% of the
federal poverty level established by the federal
government. For example, at the 200% level,
assistance is available to single people with
incomes up to $1,552 a month, a family of two
with income up to $2,082 a month, and a family of
four with income up to $3142.
"These funds
are timely and particularly helpful as they allow
MAAC to broaden its fund distribution to include
more people that are working but still unable to
pay their utility bills," said Jan Marcason,
Executive Director of MAAC. "Many of these
households are not typically eligible for federal
assistance because of their income level."
To apply for
assistance from the funds or for more
information, residents should call MAAC at
816-561-3339.
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