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Perry County works to straighten out assessment mess

BY SCOTT FITZGERALD, THE SOUTHERN

Monday, August 18, 2008 11:25 PM CDT

PINCKNEYVILLE - An Illinois Department of Revenue manager said Monday he is hopeful computation mistakes turned in with assessment documents from Perry County this year can be rectified soon so tax entities can receive their money before year's end.

"We'll turn it around in six weeks. Clearly there are tax districts in Perry County that need this money," said Mike Klemens, the department's policy and communications manager.

Perry County assessor Robin Edwards said Monday she resubmitted a declaration of sales for the year 2006 last week to the revenue department and is waiting to hear when public hearings can be scheduled.

"I discovered that several real estate transfers had incorrect or missing information on them, and therefore those sales should have been excluded from the study. I also found that some of the assessed values reported by my office were taken from the incorrect assessment level," Edwards said in a written statement.

Klemens confirmed the incorrect assessment level saying the initial declaration of sales turned in from Perry County reflected many 2006 property sales assessed at 2004 values.

The information is crucial in determining a multiplier to bring the average median level in Perry County to market value, Klemens said.

The county's total assessed value is slightly more than $197 million, Edwards said.

Officials from districts that receive tax money as part of their budget revenue are hopeful the matter gets straightened out quickly.

"It presents some cash flow problems at the time school starts," said Superintendent Tim O'Leary of Pinckneyville School District 50.

O'Leary said the district will be able to hold off through the delay without having to take out loans.

"You can borrow against anticipated revenue, but at only 85 percent of the full value. And then you have to pay interest," O'Leary said about turning to loans as a last resort to cover cash shortages in operating budgets.

The school district's projected revenue is $4.7 million this fiscal year and has projected expenses calculated at $5.5 million.

"We have just enough reserves to remain in the black," O'Leary said.

Pinckneyville mayor Joe Holder said the city has enough revenue producing accounts to cover the delay and that most revenue is generated through sales tax.

"Generally, the property tax is less than half of what the operating budget is," Holder said, noting the city's operating budget is about $1.2 million.

scott.fitzgerald@thesouthern.com

351-5076