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townhall_120Lansing Town Clerk Debbie Crandall presented a newly designed tax bill to the Lansing Town Board Wednesday.  The simplified bill may save taxpayers money when they pay Town and County taxes after January, and will save the Town as well by diverting some service fees from the County to the Town.

"I wanted to make it simpler," Crandall told the board.  "My main reason for changing it was to make all the payment options available on the front of the bill."

Though it is explained on the back of the tax bill, many taxpayers were unaware that they can pay their town and county taxes in full after January 31st.  When the tax is paid in full in February there is a 1% penalty.  If paid in full in March there is a 2% fee plus one dollar.  'Option B' allows taxpayers to pay two installments due by January 31 and July 1 with a 2.5% service charge that goes to Tompkins County.  While that spreads out the payments it costs the taxpayer more than simply paying the whole tax a month or two late.

taxbill_oldnewThe old tax bill (left) is more spread out and harder to read. All payment options are not listed on the front. The new version (right) lays out all payment options, is more readble, better laid out, and provides information taxpayers want where they can easily find it.

The new form is more legible, and easier to read.  The late payment-in-full options are clearly shown on the front of the bill, and information of how and where to pay is easier to find on the new bill.

"A lot of people didn't know they could pay full amounts in our office in February or March, or what the charge was," Crandall said.  "I took away the option of 'Part B' on the face of the bill and replaced it with information we have received a lot of phone calls about.  So hopefully that will help them, too."

Crandall said that a lot of people used the installment option because they didn't know they could pay in February or March.  On the old bill only Option A (to pay in full in January) and Option B (to pay a second installment to the County in July) were shown on the front of the bill.

taxbill_crandallLansing Town Clerk Debbie Crandall

Crandall says that the Lansing School District Treasurer Sue French plans to use the new format in September.  Clerks in the other towns in Tompkins County also plan to use the new format, and will be meeting with Tompkins County Director of Assessment Jay Franklin to adapt it for their own towns' needs.  She acknowledged Franklin for helping her as she developed the new format. 

All five Town Board members praised Crandall's work on the new format, saying it is much easier to read.

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