Contacts:
Julie Kester
Linn County Assessor
(319) 892-5220
assessor@linncounty.org

Scott Labus
City of Cedar Rapids Assessor
(319) 286-5888
cityassessor@cedar-rapids.org

2009/2010 Property Tax Notices to be Mailed August 7

(CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – August 5, 2009) — The Linn County Treasurer will mail the 2009/2010 property tax notices on Friday, August 7, 2009. The notices and resulting property taxes are based upon the assessments established on January 1, 2008 and reflect pre-flood values certified to the Linn County Auditor in 2008. Payment of the first installment of property taxes is due September 1, 2009 and becomes delinquent October 1, 2009.

Adjustments made by the assessor for flood damage will be included in the January 1, 2009 assessment pursuant to Iowa Code and will be reflected in next year’s property tax notices. The January 1, 2009 assessment will be the basis for property taxes that become due and payable in September 2010 (first installment) and March 2011(second installment). Those tax notices will reflect the loss in value from 2008 flood damage.

The Linn County Board of Supervisors has limited powers to abate property taxes under certain conditions. These conditions are set forth in chapter 445.62 of the Iowa Code which allows the supervisors to abate property taxes for that portion of the value not covered by insurance. The supervisors are currently reviewing their authority and powers granted by 445.62 in the Code of Iowa.

The Board of Supervisors and representatives from the Treasurer’s Office, Assessor’s Office, Cedar Rapids City Council, city staff and the Cedar Rapids School District will meet next week to discuss the potential for property tax abatements or suspensions for flood-affected properties.

Until more is known, property owners affected by the Flood of 2008 may file a petition, by letter, to the Linn County Board of Supervisors, at 930 1st Street SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404 (this is a mailing address only).

The letter should include the property owner’s name, mailing address, daytime phone number, email address (optional), address of property affected by the flood (if different than mailing address), GPN or parcel number, brief description of the damage to the property, present disposition of the property and any other pertinent information. A copy of a summary report from the assessor’s Web site is advisable.

The Linn County Assessor’s Web site is www.linncounty.org/assessor. The City of Cedar Rapids Assessor’s Web site is www.cedar-rapids.org/assessor/pmc.

Approximately 16% of property taxes paid go to Linn County. The remainder goes to the property’s city of residence, public school district and other taxing bodies within the area.

Residents of Linn County unincorporated areas do not pay city property taxes. These property taxes are collected in a Rural Services fund to provide services to unincorporated residents, such as roads and rural libraries. For rural residents, county taxes represent about one-third of their taxes.

Property taxes can be paid online at www.IowaTaxAndTags.gov.

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