New computer system goofs delay Ramsey County property tax statements

Some glitches in the rollout of a new computer system in Ramsey County have delayed the mailing of 160,000 tax bills to property owners.

The county intended to send out all of the 2010 bills by Wednesday, but officials have now moved the date to April 15.

At this point, it's an inconvenience issue more than anything else, said Chris Samuel, manager of Property Records and Revenue. People who want to do their income tax and state property refund forms at the same time can't because they don't have their final tax bill.

However, folks have until Aug. 16 to file for property tax refunds.

First-half 2010 property tax payments are due May 15. That due date could get pushed back -- without any penalty to the taxpayer -- if the county can't resolve the computer problems by April 27.

Things should be fixed before then, Samuel said.

The computer glitch has to do with some discrepancies in property values used in tax calculations, and that has resulted in inaccurate tax bills.

"As anybody who has turned on an electronic gizmo knows, it doesn't always go as planned," said Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt, chairwoman of the Ramsey County Board.

The county has budgeted about $2.4 million for the new system.

When it comes to property tax collection, the county essentially acts as a bank. For the May bills, it takes the money and then distributes it in June and July to the other taxing jurisdictions, such as the city of St. Paul or school district.

Samuel said a delay in the current collections wouldn't affect payments to the other jurisdictions.

Typically, the tax bills are sent out with the valuation notices. This year, officials sent out the 2011 valuation notices without the 2010 tax bills.

For more information, go to www.co.ramsey.mn.us.