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Cass Supervisors consider funding request, tax abatement & homestead/military tax credits

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November 27th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday, took under advisement, a request from Elizabeth Tobak, who asked for $1,400 in funding for a continuation of her “I Care About Kids” PRICE Parenting classes. Tobak has presented the classes for several years, but none has been held for the past four-years, due to a lack of interest. Auditor Dale Sunderman says according to Tobak, interest has recently been renewed in the classes, which teach the basics of positive parenting to new parents. Sunderman says PRICE stands for Positivity, Responsibility, Influence, Consequences and Encouragement.

In a letter to the Board of Supervisors, Tobak says she would like to teach two, four-session PRICE Parenting Seminars and one, “1,2,3,4 Parents” class, beginning in January, 2014. In the past, the County has budgeted $1,200 for its contribution to the program.

In other business, the Cass County Board passed a motion to allow or disallow homestead credit and military service exemption claims for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 taxes collectible in FY 2014-2015, and a motion to exempt from taxation (for taxes collectible Fiscal Year 2015 – Jan. 1, 2013 values), all valuation on three parcels owned by the City of Atlantic, at the Municipal Airport.

In a letter to the Board from City Administrator Doug Harris, he said “The taxes on Atlantic’s Airport should be abated because it meets the exemptions under Section 427.1 of the Iowa Code as this property is devoted to public use and is not held for pecuniary profit.” The County has received a similar request for the past two-years. Sunderman said the reason the matter was brought before the board was because of a difference in opinion between the Assessor and Harris, on what “Pecuniary profit” is.