Note to supervisors: You may pay online

Jasper County Assessor John Deegan got a rather cool reception at the board of supervisors meeting Tuesday. The reason? He was there to ask the supervisors to pay taxes on the county-owned farm ground, nearly $6,000 worth of taxes. “This is one of those things that got overlooked,” Deegan said. “Land that is owned by the county which is not open to the general public is taxable.” Deegan said he was holding off on asking for the taxes on county farm ground because the Jasper County Care Facility was to be sold but said he was giving the supervisors no special breaks on the taxes. For 2007-08 taxes, payable Sept. 2008 and March 2009, the county owes $5,858 on six separate parcels of farm ground. In an e-mail message to Deegan from Jim Moyle in the Property Tax Division of the Iowa Department of Revenue dated March 21, 2007, Iowa Code exempts county property when it is devoted to a public use and not held for profit. However, the “farming of land is not a purpose for which county government exists,” Moyle wrote in his e-mail. “As the requirements of (Iowa Code) are not met, the property would be subject to taxation.” Taxation on county land would be more than just a shifting of funds from one government entity to another. The taxes are divided among a number of other taxing authorities, including the Newton Community School District, DMACC, Buena Vista Township and Cemetery Association, Agricultural Extension Council and the State Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication fund. “I’m not sure we should just pay this before we get a legal opinion,” supervisor Rick Tiedje said. Eventually, the supervisors tabled the issue until the county attorney is able to review the situation. In other action Tuesday, the supervisors: • Approved the bid of $749 from Brooker Corp. of Newton for a heat pump to be installed in a room at the County Annex Building. The room, previously used for storage by the conservation board, had no heat and will be used to store approximately $230,000 worth of sensitive voting equipment. Jasper County Auditor Dennis Parrott said the electronic equipment was susceptible to the cold weather. • Approved the purchase of a 40-inch Sony television from Randa’s Appliance and Electronics of Newton to be used at the Jasper County Community Center. The money for the television was donated by Earnest Swab, who provided $1,600 and Claire Wilson who donated $200. • Approved the hiring of Lawrence Thomas as a driver for Congregate Meals at a pay rate of $7.58 per hour, effective Aug. 27. • Approved the final plat for Webb’s Subdivision, a 28-acre tract on Highway S6G at South 112th Avenue West south of Prairie City. The subdivision will have four lots of varying sizes.

John Jennings can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 425 or via e-mail at jennings@newtondailynews.com.