Minutes - 19780117 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The County of Orange is collecting taxes for almost all of the taxpayers far whom the three municipalities of Carrboro, Chapel Hi11 and Hillsborough are providing the same "service". It appears that this dual.activity need be performed only once at a considerably reduced cost and resulting savings to the taxpayers, as well as less of the inconvenience from dealings with two governments- and two bills. . As this report is revie+r~ed, it should be understood that the collections activity of the County tivill remain much as it would be if it were collecting only its own taxes.. The tax amount on some of its bills will 6e larger, but , the volume tivill be the same. The increasQd activity.rvill came in distribution, of taxes and reporting to several units. .Unfortunately, at least at first, - -~Y there will be considerable problems arising just from the confusion of anew • system. . TAX BILLING The County is currently preparing separate bills for each unit using the same computerized .data base that it uses for its ativn bill. A single bill , can 6e.prepared from this base combining City and County taxes, just as the County now joins with Special Districts. This activity alone will save approximately $1.00 per municipal taxpayer including the cas-brof the extra bill, envelope, stuffing and postage. ' It is particularly important that bills be prepared as soon as possible after the setting of the tax rates. . A single scroll will 6e prepared with sub-totals for each unit and each unit tivill be provided with a copy of :hat scroll and a copy of any additional billings such as "corporate excess" (the State determined utility taxes). The entire amount of the levy will be "charged" to~the County Tax Collector annually by the Orange County Board. She will then have complete legal authority for collection of the levy-.- ~ For mailing purposes, the tax bill will identify the County offices.. The large majority of the taxes will be received by this method. There will, J' of course, be some mail receipts at the municipal buildings. Generally these would be forwarded by mail to the Courthouse. Tax ayers should be encoura ed to mail in their P 9 payments and considerable initial publicity should be directed toward this goal in order to limit the walk-in activity. "Walk-in customers", however, will .be received in Chapel Nill and Carrboro municipal buildings and in the Courthouse far the payment of the taxes of any of the four units. i