Web site tool allows voters to calculate costs of tax increases

The Canton Repository ^ | Monday, October 25, 2004 | By ROBERT WANG Repository staff writer

[raynearhood]

CANTON — The Stark County auditor’s office has added a tool to its Web site that allows voters to find out how much proposed tax levies on the ballot will cost them if approved.

If a user enters a property parcel number or township and school district along with a home’s value, the Web site will list all the proposed levies that apply to the property as well as levies approved earlier this year. It also will provide the cost of each.

The tool was launched in mid-September. Stark County Auditor Brant Luther said after tax bills are mailed out in January and June, his office gets a flurry of calls from taxpayers wanting to know why their tax bills went up. He asked two programmers and other staffers around May to design the tool to help voters in this year’s election.

Eleven replacement or additional levies, which generally increase property taxes, will be on ballots in Stark County on Nov. 2. None of them apply to the entire county.

[raynearhood]

This is a pretty cool idea prior to voting. It gives the voter an idea of what there voting for. I think it would be great if this could be used on a national level, to show voters how a candidates proposed tax cuts or increases and incentives will effect them personally if that candidate is elected.

Link to website for all interested Stark County, OH voters:http://www.auditor.co.stark.oh.us/

[raynearhood]

Try this: http://www.auditor.co.stark.oh.us/

[arbee4bush]

It is a good idea. An even better one would be if they could project how much our federal taxes would go up if Kerry were elected president. Guarandamntee he would lose here in Stark County by a HUGE margin :)