Published: October 17, 2009 01:28 am      

Address changes could affect tax statements

A fairly small box on the statements for next year’s property taxes could have a big meaning for some people.

Tax bills begin being mailed out this week in Garvin County.

Garvin County Treasurer Sandy Goggans and County Assessor Beverly Strickland have teamed together to remind people to look closely at their statements and specifically at the change of address box.

It’s a big deal for the 2010 property tax mailings, because many rural addresses are being changed as part of the process to establish a countywide 911 emergency response system.

“The 911 addresses are a big thing,” Goggans said. “If their addresses have been changed and they don’t include that then they won’t get their tax statements next year.”

“We’re asking people to verify and change the address when paying their taxes,” Goggans said.

Strickland was quick to agree.

“We’re needing people to please change their 911 addresses on the statements,” Strickland said.

Strickland reminds the public to contact the assessor’s office if they need more information about their actual tax bills.

“If they have questions about the assessed value of their homes just give us a call,” she said.

Most rural and city areas in the county will see very little change in their tax bills as property is again being assessed at 11 percent of the market value.

However, one exception is Lindsay, where property owners wil see taxes increase by $5.99 per $1,000 of assessed value. The actual rate will be $84.68 per thousand.

A rate of $93.85 in Pauls Valley will go up by 87 cents per thousand. In PV’s rural areas the increase will be the same with a rate of $90.79.

Whitebead residents won’t see any change in their property taxes as two rates are listed — $72.41 or $69.35 per thousand.

On the other side of the ledger, the remaining districts in the county will see their taxes drop.

The largest decrease is for Maysville property owners, who will see a $3.89 drop with a rate of $78.03 per thousand.

Next on the tax reduction list is Paoli. A rate of $85.15 there represents a decrease of $2.71 per thousand.

For property tax purposes the areas of Elmore City, Foster and Katie are grouped together with a drop of $2.49 and overall rate of $84.45 per thousand. Some parts of Katie, along with Wynnewood, will see an 88-cent drop and $78.58 rate.

The rate for Stratford will be $93.10 per thousand — a decrease of $1.43.

Only one joint district shared with Murray County will see tax rates increase by $5.89 per thousand to $75.28.

The remaining tax decreases in other joint rural districts are as follows:

• McClain County: $82.42, down by $1.86.

• Stephens County: $76.15, down by $1.06.

• Grady County: $83.13, down by 97 cents.

At least half of the property tax must be paid by Dec. 31 with the balance due March 31, 2010.

For more information, call the county assessor’s office at (405) 238-2409.