Increased State Aid Means Delays for Township Tax Bills

An email sent out to Howell residents late on Thursday night informing them that due to an , tax bills will be mailed out later than originally anticipated. 

Township Manager Helene Schlegel said that "An extension of time for School boards to adjust budgets to include this aid extends the date the final 2011 tax rate can be struck and tax bills processed," according to the email.

Schlegel said the third quarter tax bills will have to be delayed while decisions are made on how best to use the additional money. The grace period will be a 25 day stretch, so a bill postmarked Aug. 1 will now be due on Aug. 26. "A certification of the official date of mailing will be on file in the Howell Township Municipal Clerk's Office."

Township Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Filiatreault said school boards across the state have until July 19 to decide whether they want to apply their newly included funds in the budget for the 2011-2012 school year. As of this week the Howell schools had not decided what to do with the money. If the money is not used this year it can be banked for future years or for other purposes in the budget process.

Filiatreault said after the July 19 deadline the final decisions will not be sent on to the county board of taxation until July 21. There are 52 tax rates that would have to be approved by the county for the municipalities submitting their budgets.

The next scheduled meeting of the Howell Board of Education is set for 8 p.m. on Aug. 10 at Middle School North.