County weed assessments to rise $2 in 2012

EPHRATA - The Noxious Weed Control Board is increasing its assessments after roughly eight years of keeping the same prices.

The Grant County commissioners approved the increase in the board's rates during a recent hearing. Property owners in the taxing district will pay at least $2 more. The minimum rates increase from $8 to $10.

The rates for irrigated, dry land and range land will increase by 1 cent per acre. The rates will go into effect starting in 2012.

The board handles weed control in all of the cities, and the areas outside of the four weed districts in Grant County.

Jeff Janke, the board's coordinator, said the present prices are similar to when the board was formed in 1980.

"If you look at dry land, even with our requested increase, we'll still be lower than when the weed board was formed," he said. "The range (and) scabland (designation) will be identical to what it was in 1980."

The district covers 1.3 million of the 1.7 million acres in the county, Janke said. The board oversees the area with six people. The board's budget is about $600,000, and it oversees $500,000 in the Grant County Public Works budget to handle weeds on the sides of county roads and gravel areas.

"We're actually at eight years since we asked for any raise at all," Janke said, pointing out the board last raised rates in 2004. "I know the economy is like what it is, but we have to have money to operate on and I think that's a pretty good span."

Normally the board examines rates every five years, he said, pointing out the directors decided to delay asking for an increase because of the economy.

Janke said the amount of money the board has declined to about $24,000 in April because of delays in property tax payments. He pointed out the board didn't replace a vehicle.

"We're not an outfit that just draws a salary," he said. "There's a reason for us."

Treasurer Darryl Pheasant asked the commissioners to delay the decision, citing issues with new software used by the assessor's office. He said the system might not have the ability to handle the three different types of land.

"Under the TerraScan system, we're having major problems with assessments," he said. "Right now, TerraScan says we can't use the same method of calculation for next year."

Pheasant said the assessor's office might not be able to comply with how the board is presently categorizing land for property taxes, or the board would need to perform all of the calculations itself.

"Right now, the breakdown with land classifications is a major problem with TerraScan," he said. "I don't know if it's going to be resolved ... So, right now setting rates might be moot."

Pheasant pointed out the reason the board didn't get its money sooner in April was because of problems sending out tax statements in March.

Commissioner Carolann Swartz asked how much the software problems will affect changing the assessment rates.

"Well the first thing is, while you have three different land classifications, we're not sure we would be able to have a program based on your land classification," Pheasant said.

The board still has options for raising the assessments, but it depends on what the software will allow, he said. Unless the board wanted to pay for the improvements to the software.

Swartz asked when the system would be in place, saying the board needs to continue functioning.

"It's not affecting their ability to do business," Pheasant said. "It's affecting the methodology of how they assess their ratepayers."

He said the assessor will have the problem solved before the end of the year.

Janke said the board does want to meet with the assessor, but it should be up to the assessor's office to solve the issue.

"All I can say is you can figure what we're asking for, for an increase, it's about, let's say, $100,000 and we would want that to carry us at least five years," he said. "That's the policy of our directors."

Janke said he doesn't want to use registered warrants.

Commissioner Richard Stevens pointed out the software issues don't have anything to do with whether the rates are increased, and Pheasant agreed.

Janke said he brought the proposal early so the commissioners would know about it before the board presented its budget.

The commissioners unanimously approved the increase.