Finance report: Cass County mailed 76,000 tax statements; collections about 29–30% so far

Sarah, speaking for the county finance office, told the commission that more than 76,000 property tax statements were mailed on Jan. 12 and that total billing exceeded $452 million.

"Of that, $57,000,000 was Cass County's portion," she said, and reported collections to date of just over $129,000,000 with roughly $17,000,000 attributable to the county. That works out to a collection rate of about 29–30 percent at this point in the cycle, she said; the annual payment deadline will fall on Feb. 17 this year because of a holiday.

Sarah also said the county has closed out unobligated federal funds held for ARPA and LAPFA purposes and will move to close those items out of the county’s books. She reported the general fund showed about a $2.2 million surplus as of Jan. 16 but cautioned that remaining expenses for the year will reduce that figure.

Other finance notes included sales-tax growth of about 3.6 percent year-to-date, a decline in interest revenue attributed to lower market rates, and increased fees from the marriage‑license and ceremonies area (licenses up about 11 percent and ceremonies up about 17 percent), which collectively cover related staffing costs, Sarah said. She also outlined the county’s planned audit schedule: deliverables to auditors in mid‑April and an audit completion target no later than June 30.

The commission asked procedural questions about remittance timing for sales tax and pending property‑tax bills in the legislative interim session; Sarah explained state remittance timing varies by filer and that legislative management will determine which bills may be introduced at the special session.