The City of Owensboro is adapting to the times. Rather than posting delinquent taxes and their audit publication in the newspaper, the City will instead make all the information available on their own website. Officials said on top of being more accessible, it’s a move that will save the taxpayers money each year.
Due to changes in Kentucky law, the City is no longer required to spend money posting delinquent taxes and their audit publication in the Messenger-Inquirer. The move will save just more than $6,000 annually.
Dane Galloway, deputy director of finance and support services, said the City has been adapting the way they do business and share information with the public over the last few years.
“There’s been some changes to how people get their info nowadays,” Galloway said. “This method (of posting on our website) makes it more accessible. You don’t have to get the paper. It’s also easily shareable.”
Galloway said specifically with the delinquent real and personal property taxes, the shareability is an important factor. For example, someone may see a family member’s name and quickly send the link to make them aware of a delinquent tax they may not have known about. That isn’t so easy with a newspaper.
Plus, it’s only in the newspaper once. Now, delinquent taxes will be posted on the City’s website for 30 days. Galloway said that’s another big benefit for the citizens.
“All the electronic aspects just makes it easy to share and access, she said. ”I think it’s kind of the change in the times and it’s more friendly than paper.”
Regarding the audit, the City typically had to spend $5,000 to publish an insert in the newspaper. That’s no longer the case.
Galloway said they will leave a link to the audit on the City’s homepage for 30, then it will be available on the Finance Department page for at least a couple of years.
“We are very aware of how people get their information and how people are moving toward electronic consumption,” Galloway said. “With technology, things are just so much more accessible. The nature of everything has changed and we are trying to change with it.”
Galloway said there will be a legal notice in Saturday’s edition of the newspaper letting people know about the changes.
Delinquent real and personal property taxes can be accessed here. The list will be updated weekly to reflect payments made. If anyone has any questions, they may contact the City’s tax department at 270-687-8537.
The City’s audit publication can be accessed here. If anyone has any questions, they may contact the City’s finance department at 270-687-8534.
