City of Fulton gets an extra $27,500 this year for county tax error
Some residents in Fulton will see a small increase in their 2016 property taxes due to a accounting error from the Callaway County Clerk.
Fulton’s chief financial officer, Kathy Holschlag, told ABC 17 News they spotted the error in August and had trouble reaching the department, before turning to the county commission. They eventually spoke to the state auditor and talked to the city council Tuesday night.
Essentially, Holschlag claims the clerk, Denise Hubbard, set the city’s assessed property valuation about $4.3 million higher than it should have been.
The state auditor gave the city two options, leave the tax levy where it is and then correct it next year, or they could rectify the tax levy.
Since the collector’s office has already sent out letters, to avoid a costly backtrack, city taxpayers are now expected to pay about $27,500 this year. But next year, the rate will be lower to off-set this amount.
As an example, if you live in Fulton city limits and your property is appraised at $100,000, you will pay about $4.46 this year, before next year’s adjustment.
Callaway County’s Western District Commissioner, Doc Kritzer told ABC 17 News they got involved because the city asked for help after being unsuccessful getting a response.
“That’s the frustration with everybody, they wanted answers but no one was getting them,” Kritzer said, “and that’s when we needed to call an emergency meeting, she met with us and we began the meeting.”
Although the increase will be a small amount, Kritzer said the trust is lost between citizens, the county and city, because this is also the person who is in charge with providing election results.
“It’s carelessness, and quite honestly it was taken very lightly in my opinion, and most of us that sat in that meeting. She said it was a mistake and I’m sorry for it, but she doesn’t see the ramifications from it, and the burden doesn’t end up on her.”
ABC 17 News has reached out to Hubbard for her side and we are waiting to hear back.
