WEBB CITY, MO.--- A Webb City taxing change will soon mean more work for Jasper County employees.
"My office, the Jasper County Collectors Office, will be collecting taxes for the City of Webb City beginning in November of 2013," states Stephen Holt, Jasper County Collector.
The change comes after a unanimous vote at this week's Webb City Council meeting.
"The council agreed that it was a prudent thing to turn it over to the county, because they send out statements to all of the people in Webb City, and then we turn around and do the same thing," says John Biggs, Mayor of Webb City. "So, it's a doubling of efforts to get a statement to a taxpayer and it's kind of frustrating for the tax payer because then they have to go pay two different bills."
Webb City has been operating on this system for decades, but now personnel changes are prompting the move.
"We came very close to changing it a little over one year ago. Cathy Spencer has been our city clerk, and she has worked for the city for 43 years and she is retiring," says Holt.
It's an opportune time for the city and a welcome addition to the county's collection system.
"It's a win win situation for everybody. It does not eliminate any jobs, it just makes the city jobs easier because we send them a monthly report along with their check each month stating who has paid their taxes," says Holt.
Mayor Biggs expects this new streamlined process will be well received by Webb City residents.
"It's just less complicated, a lot clearer and a lot more efficient," says Mayor Biggs.
"Now they will get one bill, they'll pay it at one place and write one check, and then the funds will be disbursed," says Holt.
This does not mean residents will pay any more or less, just that there will be one check to the county now. The change leaves Carl Junction as the only city in the county that still sends separate city property tax statements to residents.
"My office, the Jasper County Collectors Office, will be collecting taxes for the City of Webb City beginning in November of 2013," states Stephen Holt, Jasper County Collector.
The change comes after a unanimous vote at this week's Webb City Council meeting.
"The council agreed that it was a prudent thing to turn it over to the county, because they send out statements to all of the people in Webb City, and then we turn around and do the same thing," says John Biggs, Mayor of Webb City. "So, it's a doubling of efforts to get a statement to a taxpayer and it's kind of frustrating for the tax payer because then they have to go pay two different bills."
Webb City has been operating on this system for decades, but now personnel changes are prompting the move.
"We came very close to changing it a little over one year ago. Cathy Spencer has been our city clerk, and she has worked for the city for 43 years and she is retiring," says Holt.
It's an opportune time for the city and a welcome addition to the county's collection system.
"It's a win win situation for everybody. It does not eliminate any jobs, it just makes the city jobs easier because we send them a monthly report along with their check each month stating who has paid their taxes," says Holt.
Mayor Biggs expects this new streamlined process will be well received by Webb City residents.
"It's just less complicated, a lot clearer and a lot more efficient," says Mayor Biggs.
"Now they will get one bill, they'll pay it at one place and write one check, and then the funds will be disbursed," says Holt.
This does not mean residents will pay any more or less, just that there will be one check to the county now. The change leaves Carl Junction as the only city in the county that still sends separate city property tax statements to residents.
