Our own Michael Sciortino, Mahoning County Auditor was guest speaker today.
Mike is in charge of 36 departments and is the payroll director for 2,000 Mahoning County Employees. Mahoning County has had to scale back from 72 to 53 million and everyone had to tighten their belts.
He must file a comprehensive financial report with the State of Ohio, and every year has received an “excellent” rating. The Report is also online for anyone to visit. There are 8 to 9 people in his office.
Michael is also Chief Appraiser of property in Mahoning County with 180,000 parcels to re-appraise every six years. Forclosures cannot be used by county or government to determine property value. The Auditor’s Office studies the market and collects information about properties to estimate value. They have no control over tax rates.
Tax relief is available in the form of Rollbacks, and Homestead Exemptions for homeowners 65 or older. House bill 920 provides a credit against all voted tax millage. As property values increase due to reappraisals, additional “credits” are applied to voted tax levies so that property owners are not paying more than the amount of taxes the levy was originally voted to collect. The end of August thru October allows for dialog between the taxpayer and county where you can complain informally. Appeals can be filed if you believe the estimated value of your property is incorrect.
For more information please contact Mahoning County Auditor’s Office, at 330-740-2010.
Their website is www.mahoningcountyauditor.org.
President Deanna Spirko called the meeting to order and asked Bruce Laraway to lead us in the Invocation, the Pledge and singing of God Bless America.
VISITORS: Visitor was Anthony Magnetta, Budget Analyst with Mahoning County Auditor’s Office
Carol Led us in singing “When the Saints Go Marching In”. We did really well.
Gary deferred his “joke of the day” to Karl Rein.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• signups were passed around for Songleader, Fellowship, and Vocational. Another signup
to help Mark Cole and Brian Laraway with Membership
• Ambassadorial Scholarships are being accepted. The deadline is August 10th.
• Our next Bike Nite is August 11 and September 1st is our last one.
• A Thank You note was received from Kathy Kane for the Woodside Elementary Project
• District Governor George W.S. Hays visits August 22. All members should attend.
• The Cortland Club is sponsoring a Golf Outing. Anyone interested contact Deanna.
FELLOWSHIP: Chuck Baker fined Brian Laraway and Ron Carroll for last in. Then went on to fine anyone not wearing their Rotary pin. Carol was fined for something, but it really doesn’t matter what, as she is always fined. (or is that “fine”).
ROTARY MINUTE by Chuck Baker. Chuck talked our new Rotary International President, Kalyan Banerjee from Vapi, Gujarat, India. He gave some highlights of his life and said he joined Rotary in 1972 and likes taking a nap.
DRAWING: Wowie,zowie, Reel won over the Queen of Hearts!! Congratulations Gary, now you can afford another trip.
PROGRAM: Our own Michael Sciortino, Mahoning County Auditor was guest speaker today.
Mike is in charge of 36 departments and is the payroll director for 2,000 Mahoning County Employees. Mahoning County has had to scale back from 72 to 53 million and everyone had to tighten their belts.
He must file a comprehensive financial report with the State of Ohio, and every year has received an “excellent” rating. The Report is also online for anyone to visit. There are 8 to 9 people in his office.
Michael is also Chief Appraiser of property in Mahoning County with 180,000 parcels to re-appraise every six years. Forclosures cannot be used by county or government to determine property value. The Auditor’s Office studies the market and collects information about properties to estimate value. They have no control over tax rates.
Tax relief is available in the form of Rollbacks, and Homestead Exemptions for homeowners 65 or older. House bill 920 provides a credit against all voted tax millage. As property values increase due to reappraisals, additional “credits” are applied to voted tax levies so that property owners are not paying more than the amount of taxes the levy was originally voted to collect. The end of August thru October allows for dialog between the taxpayer and county where you can complain informally. Appeals can be filed if you believe the estimated value of your property is incorrect.
For more information please contact Mahoning County Auditor’s Office, at 330-740-2010.
Their website is www.mahoningcountyauditor.org.