The Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) certified Carroll County’s 2010 budget order and tax rates on Feb. 10, paving the way for on-time property tax bills for the first time in at least three years.

The budget certification came 140 days sooner than last year, putting the county in a position to have taxes due on May 10.

“The entire property tax system relies on many different parts to run smoothly,” Commissioner Timothy J. Rushenberg said. “Teamwork and communication among all involved in the assessment to-tax billing process at the state and local level has brought us to a point not seen in years where property tax bills should actually be mailed and due on time.”

The first step in the assessment to tax billing process is the completion of the property assessments which culminates with the submission of a ratio study. A ratio study is a comparison between property sales prices and assessed values in the county to ensure that market values are being used to determine assessed values. Carroll County Assessor Doris McLeland submitted the 2010 ratio study July 7, 2009; 29 days sooner than last year.

Once the DLGF approves the ratio study, the assessor sends the gross assessed values to the county auditor who applies exemptions, deductions or abatements to determine the net assessed values which tax rates are based.

Carroll County Auditor Beth Myers submitted certified net assessed values Nov. 13, 202 days sooner than the previous year.

Now that the 2010 budget has been certified, the next steps are handled at the county level. The county auditor is to calculate tax bills which should then be mailed by the county treasurer no later than April 23.

Taxpayers interested in estimating their property tax bill may do so using the DLGF’s online property tax calculator at in.gov/dlgf/4932.htm.

Taxpayers will need to know their property’s assessed value, deductions and taxing district to use the tool. The estimates provided are projections only and should not be taken as a statement of true tax liability which is determined by the county.

A copy of the budget is available at in.gov/dlgf/2615.htm.