Desert Messenger

P��� 18  ASSESSOR FROM PAGE 17 Let’s summarize the total taxation process: 1) COUNTY ASSESSOR RESPONSIBILITY: to locate, identify, and list on the tax roll all taxable properties and determine what the full cash value is according to guidelines and proce- dures set by the Arizona Department of Revenue. 2) LA PAZ COUNTY TAXING JURISDIC- TIONS: (includes but not limited to: county government, community college district, school districts, water districts, lighting dis- tricts, etc.) to determine through their bud- get process, how much taxes they need to levy to meet their requirements for the cur- rent fiscal year. 3) LA PAZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVI- SORS: reviews all source of revenue, the tax levy, and computes the tax rate, for the bud- get for the current fiscal year, and extends that tax rate to the tax roll. 4) LA PAZ COUNTY TREASURER: receives the tax roll, mails out the tax notices, pre- pares for collection of taxes levied, submits to the sheriff delinquent tax bills. If you should have any question pertaining to any of the above information, contact the entity to which the subject associates. ASSESSOR’S CORNER PART 2 This week we would like to let the taxpay- ers know that Thursday, August 13 was the cut off date for any ownership or address changes for tax year 2010. For those of you who have moved and didn’t notify either the Treasure’s Office or the Assessor’s Office, your tax bill is going to the mailing address we have in our data base. Any changes that are made after this date will not reflect on the 2010 tax bill. An example, if you bought a piece of property and closed escrow after the 13th of August, you will not receive the tax bill the old owner will be the one to re- ceive it. It will be up to the buyer and seller as to who pays the tax bill. The taxing authorities have all submitted their budgets for 2010/2011 and the Board of Supervisors have had their meetings and the new tax rates have been set. The Depart- ment of Revenue will prepare the Assessor’s information and send it to the printer to have the Tax bills printed for the tax year 2010. Your first installment payment is due Octo- ber 1st and will be delinquent Nov 1st. If you wish to pay your taxes in full you may do so by December 31st without accruing interest. You should be receiving your 2010 Tax bill the later part of September. We hope that if you had an address change you did not for- get to contact our office. If you don’t receive your tax bill you might want to give the Treasurer’s Office a call to find if your tax bill was returned. You can reach the Treasure’s Office at (928) 669- 6145, and they will be happy to assist you. As always call our office if you have any con- cerns or questions or tune in to KLPZ 1380 AM Country with Keith & Juanita. ASSESSOR’S CORNER PART 3 What is the Assessor role in taxation of property? What’s the difference in “taxation of property” verses “valuation of property”? How does property get appraised? In the process, at what point does the tax get ap- plied? The La Paz County Assessor’s duty is to lo- cate and identify property, and list it on the tax roll at its full cash value. The Assessor process in valuation of property is to deter- mine the “full cash value”. Property is listed in two categories: real property and personal property. Real property includes land, build- ings, and other improvements on or to the land. Personal property includes manufac- tured housing and mobile homes, a busi- ness’ machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures, etc. The Assessor also classifies property according to its use, such as com- mercial, residential, industrial, vacant land, agricultural property, and historic property. These taxable real properties are identified by issuing standard parcel numbers, and is- suing a taxpayer identification number iden- tifies personal property. Let’s say you’ve just purchased vacant land and decide to build a home on this property. The deed to the property is recorded with the County Recorder; the Assessor has access to this information and adjusts the Assessor’s property ownership information according- ly. To build a home, you acquire the required permits to complete this project. Copies of these permits are routed to the County As- sessor and information is gathered on this vacant property and tagged for review. Once the review is completed the data is entered on our system that maintains the property ownership, legal description, value of the property, construction cost of any improve- ments to the land, and other pertinent data. The combined information entered using standard appraisal methods and techniques, derive at a “full cash value” for property as- sessment purposes. The Assessor’s role in taxation of property is to forward the list of “full cash value” of all properties to the taxing authorities. This is where in county govern- ment, the baton is handed to other govern- ment entities. A report of all taxable properties in the county jurisdiction lists the total full cash value, shall be used as the basis for the pur- pose of assessing, fixing, determining and levying secondary property taxes. These tax- es are used for such items as budget override levies, debt service on bonded indebtedness, and for the purposes intended by any special assessments. These reports are provided for the taxing jurisdictions such as the county, community college district, school districts, water districts, lighting district, etc., to deter- mine the budget for the current fiscal year. Next week we’ll review the process of how the tax rates are determined and when they get applied to the full cash value. Until next time, George Nault and Staff La Paz County Assessors Office 1112 Joshua Avenue, Suite 204 Parker, Arizona 85344 928-669-6165 ���.D�����M��������.��� S�������� 1, 2010 Leave No Trace 7 Principles The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and active stewardship of the outdoors by all people, worldwide. www.LNT.org PLAN AHEAD AND PREPARE • Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you’ll visit. • Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies. • Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use. • Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting larger groups into smaller groups. • Repackage food to minimize waste. • Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging. ________________________________________ TRAVEL AND CAMP ON DURABLE SURFACES • Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow. • Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams. • Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary. In popular areas: • Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites. • Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy. • Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent. • In pristine areas: • Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails. • Avoid places where impacts are just beginning. ________________________________________ DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY • Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter. • Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished. • Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products. • To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater. ________________________________________ LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND • Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts. • Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them. • Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species. • Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches. ________________________________________ MINIMIZE CAMPFIRE IMPACTS • Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light. • Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires. • Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand. • Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes. ________________________________________ RESPECT WILDLIFE • Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them. • Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers. • Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely. • Control pets at all times, or leave them at home. • Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter. ________________________________________ BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER VISITORS • Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience. • Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail. • Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock. • Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors. • Let nature’s sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises The Leave No Trace Seven Principles have been reprinted with permission from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org. http://leavenotracecommunity.blogspot.com/

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