Valley Pulse

As we hope you’ve read by now, Waynesboro Commissioner of Revenue Don Coffey wants to impose a late filing penalty as a way to get people to pay their personal property taxes.

The city has lost out on $4.6 million from non-filers in the last three years, most of that coming from unpaid motor vehicle personal property taxes. Just to give you an idea of the breakdown:

2006
The city assessed 18,269 vehicles, collecting $3,245,248.95 in taxes. The number of assessments for non-filers totaled 5,167 vehicles, representing 28 percent of the total motor vehicle assessments, with $1,466,268.25 in taxes going uncollected. A 10 percent penalty on that would have netted the city $146,626.83, and a $10 penalty $51,670. With a 10 percent penalty on late filers, the city could have collected another $48,614.24, and with a $10 penalty, $14,020.

2007
The city assessed 18,911 vehicles, collecting $3,325,352,90 in taxes. The number of assessments for non-filers totaled 5,234 vehicles, representing 28 percent of the total motor vehicle assessments, with $1,550,747.20 in taxes going uncollected. A 10 percent penalty on that could have netted the city $155,074.72, and a $10 penalty $52,340. With a 10 percent penalty on late filers, the city could have collected another $54,338.24, and with a $10 penalty, $15,170.

2008
The city assessed 18,553 vehicles, collecting $3,462,174.90 in taxes. The number of assessments for non-filers totaled 5,283 vehicles, representing 28 percent of the total motor vehicle assessments, with $1,625,159.40 in taxes going uncollected. A 10 percent penalty on that could have netted the city $162,515.94, and a $10 penalty $52,830. With a 10 percent penalty on late filers, the city could have collected another $47,822.73, and with a $10 penalty, $12,540.

Mobile homes
The city assessed 212 mobile homes in 2006, with 45 not filing and leaving $1,510.51 in uncollected taxes (10 percent penalty = $151.05; $10 penalty = $450). The city could have collected anywhere from $60 to $170.48 in additional penalties from late filers.

In 2007, the city assessed 217 mobile homes, with 56 not filing and leaving $2,185.46 in uncollected taxes (10 percent penalty = $218.45; $10 penalty = $560). The city could have collected anywhere from $60 to $170.48 in additional penalties from late filers.

For 2008, the city assessed 213 mobile homes, with 57 not filing and leaving $1,972.55 in uncollected taxes (10 percent penalty = $197.26; $10 penalty = $570). No one filed late.

Business equipment and machinery and tools taxes
In 2006, the city sent out 1,374 assessments combined, with 240 not filing and leaving $885 in uncollected taxes (10 percent penalty = $88.52; $10 penalty = $240). The city could have collected anywhere from $60 to $413.33 from late filers.

In 2007, the city sent out 1,344 assessments combined, with 233 not filing and leaving $55,936 in uncollected taxes (10 percent penalty = $5,593.55; $10 penalty = $2,330). The city could have collected between $90 and $2,511.74 from late filers.

With upcoming reassessments, cuts made already in the budget and the proposed state cuts, these numbers give something to chew on.

In 2008, the city sent out 1,168 asessments combined, with 207 not filing and leaving $64,964 in uncollected taxes (10 percent penalty = $6,496.39; $10 penalty = $2,070). The city could have collected anywhere from $200 to $4,934.97 from late filers.