City Council discusses tax code changes

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert City Council discussed mandated changes to the municipality’s tax code, while also approving a number of housekeeping financial items during a regularly scheduled meeting held Monday in Council Chambers.

City Law Director John Hatcher noted that a number of changes to the local tax code have been mandated by the state.

”This was kind of forced down our throats,” Hatcher told Council members prior to his enumerating some of the local tax code changes needed.

While City Tax Administrator Rudy Grant said he feels the changes will likely be a balance between ones that positively and negatively affect the city, one substantial change is the newly created ability to tax unemployment compensation checks.

Other changes include penalty charges for late filing and delinquent tax payments and estimates, while the city estimate dates will now be aligned with state and federal deadlines, Hatcher noted. Tax amounts will also be rounded to the closest dollar, while tax preparers are prohibited from serving as members of the City Board of Tax Appeals.

“We’re not looking at huge changes,” Grant said, while also adding that next year’s tax-filing deadline will be April 18, 2016.

City Auditor Martha Balyeat noted that city revenues are lower than the same period last year, but noted that city departments included in the city’s General Fund have spent $413,967 less than the city has taken in this year, which she said is about a break-even situation, because of the receipt of a $500,000 windfall payment earlier this year.

Council approved a then-and-now certificate, as well as transfers and supplemental appropriations recommended by Balyeat, while also approving tax rates for the coming year.

Council President Ken Mengerink also read a letter from former airport manager Tom Dunno criticizing the Van Wert Regional Airport Authority for what he called its “dysfunctional” lack of organization, including the fact the board has no mission statement or operating plan, while being “too highly influenced” by outside factors, including some city and county officials.

Mayor Don Farmer talked about a meeting held with residents of the Sunrise Court area and noted that new, enlarged drains to be installed in the area should be in within the next week.

Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming said that the final city brush pick-up for the year will be held Tuesday, September 1.