'96 TAX REVENUE COLLECTIONS EXPECTED TO BE UP IN COUNTY

JACKSON -- The Cape Girardeau County collector's office is expected to receive nearly $2.29 million more in real estate and personal property taxes this year than last.

However, almost 35 percent of that increase is due to the fact that the county is collecting municipal taxes for some cities for the first time.

Approximately 30,000 tax bills have been sent out by the county. Most were sent last week and the remainder mailed Monday and Tuesday.

County Collector Harold Kuehle said between 94 and 97 percent of county taxpayers pay their taxes on time each year, although the rate does fluctuate in some years.

By February he expects 98 percent of county tax bills will be paid.

"Cape County is a good-paying county. In a lot of counties, the rate is much lower," Kuehle said.

The timely payments might be linked to state regulations concerning renewal of automobile license plates.

"Since the license bureau requires a property tax receipt before you can get your license, that has helped a lot in getting people to pay on time," said Kristi Watson of the collector's office.

Tax bills must be paid in person or postmarked by Dec. 31 for residents to avoid a penalty of 5 percent and interest payments of 2 percent per month.

Records show Cape Girardeau County residents owe $16,535,256.06 in real estate taxes and $5,929,453.63 in personal property taxes for a total of $22,464,709.69.

Last year county residents owed $20,178,375.15, not including around $800,000 collected by the cities of Jackson, Whitewater and Allenville. The county nows handles collections for those cities.

Jackson City Administrator Steve Wilson said the county's high collection rate, in addition to convenience for taxpayers, was one reason the city chose to contract with the county to collect its tax revenue. Around $12,000 in Jackson municipal taxes went unpaid in 1995.

"It will be a savings for us because we know the collection rate for city taxes will be improved," Wilson said.

"Before, you could pay your county taxes in order to get your car license and then forget your city taxes. At least that potential existed. But by paying all of your taxes at once there is no way to escape."

Municipalities pay the county 1 percent of total receipts for their collection services. The county has collected for the city of Cape Girardeau for a number of years.

Though taxes are paid to the county, funds are collected for a variety of taxing entities. The county collects real estate and property taxes for the state of Missouri, local school districts, fire protection districts, the Riverside Regional Library and the Sheltered Workshop in addition to the county and certain cities.

Schools account for nearly 70 percent of real estate and property taxes in Cape Girardeau County. Local schools are expected to bring in $15,671,066.27 from those sources, specifically $11,404,546.44 in real estate revenue and $4,266,519.83 in property taxes.

Individuals aren't the only ones facing tax bills from the county. Tax revenue from railroads and utilities -- telephone, power and gas companies -- is up about 2.3 percent this year.

The railroad and utility taxes, which are assessed both by state and local entities, will bring in $2,417,121.10. That is a difference of about $55,000 over last year's totals of $2,361,785.28.

Once again schools claim the bulk of those funds, taking $1,703,879.64 or about 70 percent.