MAHONING COUNTY Treasurer to scale back on mailing tax statements

The service was not required by law.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County Treasurer John Reardon will not send year-end tax statements to property owners who pay their taxes through mortgage escrow companies.
The reason: The county is in a fiscal crisis because of the defeat of the half-percent sales tax issue in November.
Reardon said that in past years about 35,000 statements have been sent in December to taxpayers who did not receive regular bills because their real estate tax was included in their monthly mortgage payments and paid to the treasurer on their behalf by the mortgage company.
The statements have shown the amount of tax paid for each property, a breakdown of how the tax dollars are distributed to the various taxing districts, the assessed value of the property, the total and effective millage tax rates, and other information about property taxes.
Reardon indicated that the service has been well-received by mortgage escrow taxpayers.
'Positive feedback'
"Of all the services we've provided, this one has probably elicited the most positive feedback. Homeowners have really appreciated receiving the detailed information. Some have even commented that the statements have enabled them to make informed decisions about school levies and other voter initiatives."
But Reardon noted that this service isn't required by law, and for that reason it can no longer be provided because of the county's budget problems.
"Even though the cost was nominal -- basically printing and postage -- as a nonmandated service it needs to be eliminated in this environment of fiscal crisis," Reardon said.
The treasurer said that he hopes to again offer the service in the future.