Desert Messenger

S�������� 1, 2010 National Preparedness Month is a na- tionwide effort sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to en- courage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. “National Preparedness Month is a great time for the American public to learn about how to prepare for disasters. For 2010 The Department of Homeland Se- curity and the National Preparedness Co- alition are focusing on family emergency preparedness, and urging everyone to help make themselves and their loved ones bet- ter prepared.” – HOW READY ARE YOU? 1. Do you have a complete 72 hour kit? Stored water? 2. Do you have a week supply of food stor- age? A month supply of food storage? 3. What type of emergencies can happen in your area? 4. Do you know the state approved evacu- ation route from your home? 5. Do you know where the nearest emer- gency shelter is in case you have to leave your home? 6. Do you know where the shut off valves are for the water, gas and power to your home? Do you know how to shut off your water, gas, or electric to your house in case of an emergency? 7. Do you know about your town’s emer- gency alert system? If yes, are you signed up to get alerts? 8. Do you have an emergency battery op- erated or solar radio? If yes, do you know ���.D�����M��������.��� September is National Preparedness Month what station to tune into for emergency alerts and updates in your town? 9. Do you have a complete first aid kit read- ily available? Do you know basic first aid techniques? 10. Do you have finances stored up in the event the power is out and the banks can- not open? 11. Do you have a family or community emergency plan? If yes, do you update or review it annually? September – National Preparedness Month is an excellent time of the year for updating/changing your emer- gency plan. 12. Have you pr-evaluated each room in your house? Ask yourself: what will fall on my head, or will keep me from getting out if it fell? 14. Have you identified the best and worst places to be in your house? Remember that you might not have any choice as to where you will be located when a disaster strikes 15. Have you installed smoke detectors in the living areas of your home and near sleeping areas? September – National Pre- paredness Month is an excellent time of the year for changing out batteries. 16. Last but not least, how about your pets? Do you have enough food saved up for them to last 3 days to a week? Where would they go, what would happen to them if you had to evacuate your home? Does your local shelter accept pets (many of them do not). This are vital question you need to prepare for BEFORE a disaster happens. BE SAFE – BE PREPARED Everyone Welcome! Come and worship God in a Biblical manner with us at the Quartzsite Church of Christ. Located at 76 S. Emelia St. CELEBRATE OUR NEW LOCATION! (turn west just past Senior Center on Cowell, left on Emelia) Sunday Morning Worship Service, 10:00 a.m. Sunday Evening Group Bible Discussion, 6:00 p.m. Wed. Women’s Bible Study, 10:00 a.m. We are thrilled to have our own buildings and lot now, having met in the Senior Center for years! Now all we are missing is YOU! As the Holy Spirit directed it be written in the Bible in Romans 16:16... “The Churches of Christ salute you.” assessor’s corner By George Nault, La Paz County Assessor Last issue, we reviewed the Assessor’s roll in taxation of property, the difference in “taxation of property” verses “valuation of property”, and how does the property get appraised. Once the Assessor determines the “full cash value” and a list is set for the rolls, what happens next? Let’s continue in the taxation process: The Assessor forwards the completed and certified assessment roll to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. The governing body of each county, com- munity college district, school districts, fire districts, and by special taxing dis- tricts (such as irrigation districts, lighting districts) determine through their budget process how much taxes they need to levy to meet their requirements. They then for- ward this information to the County Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors reviews all property tax levies, plus all other sources of revenue, as estimated, and unencumbered balances from the preceding fiscal year and the total amounts that are proposed to be spent in the budget for the current fiscal year. The required property tax levy is divided by the final assessed value (The assessed ��� value is derived from the full cash value) determined for the taxing jurisdiction to compute the tax rate. The County Board of Supervisors extends that tax rate to the tax roll. (Remember this is where the Assessor provided the tax roll) Tax amounts for real and personal property are tabulated by the board to complete the assessment. The ba- ton at this point is past on to another gov- ernment entity, the County Treasurer. Immediately upon receipt of the tax roll form the County Board of Supervisors, the County Treasurer shall publish an official notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. The notice shall state that the assessment and tax roll is in the treasurers’ possession of collecting the taxes levied. No other demand for taxes is necessary. Each person who is subject to taxation shall pay the taxes at the County Treasurer’s office before they become delinquent. Annual property tax statements are issued on a calendar year basis, and are printed and mailed in September of that year. The statement has two payment stubs and prop- erty tax payments may be paid in full or in two installments. If you do not receive a tax statement by October 1, contact the Treasurer’s Office at (928) 669-6145 and they will mail a copy to you.  SEE ASSESSOR PAGE 18 BURIED inCREDIT CARD Over $10,000 in credit card bills? Can’t make the minimum payments? DEBT? � WE CAN GET YOU OUT OF DEBT QUICKLY � WE CAN SAVE YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS � WE CAN HELP YOU AVOID BANKRUPTCY Not a high-priced consolidation loan or one of those consumer credit counseling programs CREDIT CARD RELIEF for your FREE consultation CALL 866-730-4975 Not available in all states P��� 17

• Cover