Big jump the result of underpayment error made on last year’s tax bill

    Some Village of Belgium taxpayers were shocked when they opened their tax bills last week and saw the bills were 20% higher than last year.

    Village Clerk Kaity Olsen told the Village Board Monday that several people came into the office to voice their anger.

    She and administrative assistant Sherri Erickson explained that the tax bills are about the same as 2010, but that village taxpayers got a break last year when paperwork for the tax incremental district was not sent to Ozaukee County Treasurer Karen Makoutz.

   The bills last year were 17% lower than they should have been, Olsen said.

    A letter was sent Jan. 19 by Village President Richard Howells to all taxpayers explaining what had happened and how the discrepancy would affect this year’s tax bill. Residents were advised that this year’s tax bill would be 20% higher than last year’s and they should contact their mortgage lender if they have a tax escrow.

    “Apparently, people forgot about the letter,” Olsen said.

    Howells said no one who paid their tax bills on Tuesday complained, so most people may understand the situation.

    “We remind people of the letter and offer to send them another one, but no one has requested that,” he said.

    Rather than send out corrected tax bills last year, it was decided the village would extend its tax incremental district for one year.

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