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The assessor's office finished the land values abstract on April 25,
Brosamer said. It looks like the overall tax dollars are up about
$8,130,000 equalized assessed value over last year's figures, she
said. The county gets a portion of that figure. The figures went
from the assessor's office to the Illinois Department of Revenue and
into the hands of Litterly and Andy Lascody, financial consultant
for the county.
Litterly said that she and Lascody were cautious in their work.
The county's share could have been up to $61,000. "Looks like we'll
be $10,000 shy of what we could have got, but Andy and I worked hard
to get the maximum amount that would fit," Litterly said.
The state will supply a certified multiplier to proceed, which is
expected by Wednesday. Several other steps take place locally, and
then tax bills can be sent out.
Geoff Ladd, director of the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of
Logan County, had more good news. The bureau gets much of its
financing out of the county's portion of hotel-motel taxes, and
those are up 22 percent in March.
Ladd commented that the new Wal-Mart Supercenter project seems to
be helping spur some of the activity.
He also told the finance committee meeting that the bureau is
still doing well with its expenses and keeping some backup money in
the bank.
Last year Holiday Inn was in process of remodeling 50 percent of
its rooms, and that severely affected the tax revenue. Finance chair
Chuck Ruben succinctly pointed out that a hotel doesn't usually
renovate just half its rooms, and Holiday Inn would probably be
getting around to the other half; tourism would want to make certain
their savings buffer takes this into account.
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 City and county officials collaboratively stepped out of their
comfort zones the past couple of years in financing some high-cost
infrastructure to bring much-desired and needed economic growth. The
results of those investments are now starting to be seen in the form
of increased property values, incomes and sales taxes. The hope now
is that the revenues will keep up with or exceed costs during the
payback time.
On another matter, the finance committee said that they have been
getting some calls about the $60,000 being spent with Clifton
Gunderson. Clifton Gunderson is the accounting company that the
county has chosen to work on the next audit. The money being paid to
them is for the next audit and is not for the delayed 2005 audit
that is still in process with Crowe Chizek.
The audit by Crowe Chizek is still not complete, and there was no
further prediction on when it would be done. The treasurer's office
and consultants are still trying to rectify the problems, which were
primarily caused by double computer entries and the like.
The board tentatively approved tax anticipation notes in the
amount of $300,000 to help with cash shortages, as things are
expected to get tight until property taxes come in.
Ruben announced tongue-in-cheek, "You'll be happy to know that
tax bills will be coming out close to on time, within a week of the
start of July."
[Jan
Youngquist]
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