Treasury Sports New Look

NOTICE:

Deadline for registration renewals-last name beginning with "B" is March 31, 2010, must show proof of active insurance for each vehicle being renewed. Must also show or provide a copy of your driver’s license.

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The front office of the Ellis County Treasury was given a much needed face lift this summer. “So much private information is passed between Treasury clerks and their customers that something needed to be done,” says Treasurer Mike “Mickey” Billinger. Treasury customers are asked for driver’s license numbers, social security numbers, checking account numbers, bank routing numbers, phone numbers, addresses, credit card numbers, debit card numbers and vehicle information.
According to Billinger, “The State considers all motor vehicle information to be confidential. For example renewals received from the State are either returned to registrants after renewing or shredded.” These are no longer thrown in the trash.

Identity theft has become a major concern for everyone. What once was considered someone else’s problem, “that only happens in the big cities” has now come to the heartland. First quarter figures of 2009 showed an increase of 40% in identity theft across the country. Ellis County Sheriff, Ed Harbin, concurs with the importance of protecting private and confidential information. “I share the Treasury’s concerns on keeping confidential information private and making the effort to do so by separating workstations into private areas to conduct county business. This can only help to minimize identity theft concerns of the customers of the Treasury.” Criminals steal a person’s identity by gaining access to personal, private or confidential information. The configuration of the Treasury public counter once lent itself to unknowingly sharing of personal information. Most busy days the crowded public office had customers standing arm to arm at the counter. Conversations at one end of the counter could be heard at the other end, as well as all along the counter.

One of the best ways to keep your personal information private is not to share it publicly. The seven workstations at the counter have now been compartmentalized by the use of frosted Plexiglas partitions. It is now very difficult to hear what is being said or see information being exchanged in adjoining workstations.

“This renovation was done exclusively for the protection of the taxpayers and registrants of Ellis County. In turn it has created a minor problem for the Treasury,” said Treasurer Billinger.

The Treasury continues to use entrance and exit doors. Those entering the Treasury public area entrance are asked to pass through the doorway and check the workstations to see if they are ‘Open’ or ‘Closed’. Each workstation sports a small sign indicating one or the other. If a workstation is ‘Open’ and no one is standing in front of this workstation that means a Treasury clerk is sitting in this workstation waiting for their next customer. “Clerks positioned in workstations other than one, two or seven are no longer able to see people standing in the doorway,” said Billinger. Therefore those waiting in line are asked to move into the Treasury and look for the signs. Eventually there will be a mirror positioned on the wall so those waiting in line and the Treasury clerks can see each other.

This configuration is new and will take the patience of everyone using the services of the Ellis County Treasury to make it work smoothly. Nonetheless the Treasury will continue to protect individual’s personal, private or confidential information making this a primary goal.

 

In God We Trust Tag

Kansas has many specialized plates. If you want your college logo on a license plate, there is one you can purchase. Others salute agriculture and the state’s children. The State has added another to the list of specialty tags.

The “In God We Trust” license plate is now being processed and will be distributed after January 1, 2010. The 2008 legislature passed House Bill 2704 authorizing this plate. The plate consists of a picture of wheat in the left-hand corner with the words “In God We Trust” boldly overlaid.

Francis and Geri Landry, retired restaurateurs from Colby KS, have made the reality of this tag in Kansas their personal mission. While visiting in Indiana they noticed many Indiana tags that read “In God We Trust”. “Oftentimes while driving, our state of mind is elsewhere,” said Francis Landry. “But you get behind someone with that license plate, and it changes your mindset. It reminds you that God is in charge. I thought, ‘This is a nice message to have out there on the street.’ ”

Landry approached his state representative, Rep. Jim Morrison, R-Colby, who liked the idea and introduced House Bill 2704. Within three months the bill passed both houses with a majority vote.

These plates are authorized for any Kansas resident who owns or leases one or more passenger vehicles, motorcycle, travel trailer or truck with a gross weight of 20,000 pounds or less. Residents are authorized to purchase a plate for each such vehicle they own. The distinctive application plate fee is $45.50 for each plate ordered.

Registrants who preordered their plate will be sent a letter from the State to pick up their “In God We Trust” plate from their respective County Treasurer’s office. Those that did not preorder, but would like to purchase the “In God We Trust” plate may do so after the Treasurer’s office is supplied with a stock of these tags at the same application fee of $45.50. There is no certification or “extra” yearly fee other than the regular annual registration fee. These plates will not be changed every 5 years and may be transferred.

Kansas Gold Star Mother Plate

The Kansas Legislature passed House Bill 2691 in 2008, allowing a Gold Star Mother to make application for a new specialized license plate. A Gold Star Mother is any mother of a service member, son or daughter, killed on active duty in the service of our country. Gold Star Mothers can apply to receive these plates free of charge but still are required to pay annual motor vehicle tax and registration fees. A generous donation from Neva Heiselman, Holton, Kansas, paid for the processing of these license plates, eliminating the need for each Gold Star Mother to pay an application fee.

Mothers may order their Gold Star Mother license plate at their respective County Treasurer’s office. Application for these plates cannot be made at this time; the State will notify counties when the application process is available and the public will be informed at that time. Once applications can be taken the mother’s name must appear on the vehicle title on which the tag will be displayed. A DD1300-Report of Casualty or a Death Certificate must be presented at the time of application. Mother’s may also provide a DD2064-Died in Theatre or a DD93 form which states the soldier died on active duty, naming his/hers parents.

Once this process is made available and implemented the Kansas Department of Revenue will send these tags to the County Treasurer the same day they receive the order. For additional information contact the Kansas Division of Vehicles at 785-296-3601.

It’s been over a year since the City of Victoria and Equity Bank of Ellis partnered with the Ellis County Treasury to provide a free, convenient, secure and energy/gas savings-‘green’ drop-off sight for motor vehicle renewals and/or property tax payments. No longer are you forced to make a special trip to the Ellis County Courthouse, spend money on postage, waste gas or stand in long lines trying to renewal registrations or pay taxes.

Use the City Hall of Victoria water bill drop box or the drive up window at Equity Bank of Ellis to renew registrations or pay taxes. If you drop off a registration renewal(s) allow three working days for processing and you should receive your decal/tag in the mail around the third day. Tax payments will be posted in the Treasury on the next working day. Registration renewals or tax payments dropped off before 5:00 PM are delivered to the Treasury the next working day, those dropped off after 5:00 PM are delivered to the Treasury on the second working day. There is no cost for the use of this service.

The Ellis County Treasury also has two drop boxes in the Ellis County Courthouse. The first is located on the outside of the courthouse on the north eastern corner in the bottom of the window. The other is located inside the courthouse directly outside the entrance to the Treasury. Both are emptied daily.

Did you realize the State no longer provides a mail back envelope for registration renewals? Why use a personal envelope when you can ‘go green’ and do the following: 1) sign the registration renewal form(s) from the State, 2) provide a copy of current insurance for each registration being renewed 3) place a check for the total amount due (please no cash) in the envelope the State used originally to mail your renewal(s) 4) tape or staple this envelope shut and 5) put it in one of the drop boxes. This process reuses the original envelope and saves you money in the process. Mail back envelopes are provided for tax payments.

2009 Tax Roll
Tax Breakdown
State of Kansas	$487,061.25
Ellis County	$ 12,608,068.46
Cities-Tax	$ 5,605,790.43
Cities-Specials	$ 480,127.01
School Districts	$ 17,451,804.72
All Other Entities	$ 319,222.19
Grand Total	$ 36,952,074.06

 

www.e-treasury.us

The Ellis County Treasury web-site continues to provide up-to-date and ever changing information. Search engines for all types of taxes are now available 24/7/365 with information as current as the prior work day.

Electronic reminders are sent electronically via an email to remind taxpayers/registrants of upcoming deadlines or events. This service is free and requires the enclosed application to be filled out and returned to the Treasury.

The Tax Estimator is the used to calculate fees for motor vehicles. It may be used for a new purchase or a vehicle registration being renewed. The Calendar page changes monthly and always posts the current month along with the next two upcoming months. Events, holidays, publications and more are posted on this page. The K-64 page lists all those taxpayers that qualify for the current tax year.

Points of Interest

• If you received a white real estate statement, be advised this is not a bill, the bill was sent to your mortgage company. This statement is to inform you of the taxes that were assessed on your property.

• Tax payment deadlines for the 2009 tax roll have changed from last year and are: 1st half or full payments, 12/21/2009 and 2nd half payments, 05/10/2010.

• ACH application forms for paying taxes are located at the bottom, back of each statement. Completed applications for each statement being paid with this method must be returned to the Treasury on or before 12/11/2009 along with a COPY of check from which the payment is being made. One COPY of a check for multiple statements is acceptable. To use this method of payment each year, the taxpayer must complete the application form(s) each year. These do not carry from one year to the next.

• Payment stubs are located at the bottom of each statement and should be returned to the Treasury along with payments in the envelope provided.

• The Ellis County Treasury is open 9 hours each day, Monday thru Friday, 8-5. All scheduled Holidays are listed on the Treasury website, www.e-treasury.us.

• Drop boxes are available in several places in Ellis County. 1) the bottom of the left window on the east side of the Ellis County Courthouse, 2) in the hall directly outside the Treasury on the bottom floor north wing, 3) Victoria City Hall utility payment slot and 4) the drive up window of the Equity Bank, Ellis Kansas (only).

• Concerning Motor Vehicle transactions and proof of insurance, this is mandatory and must be current Kansas liability insurance. Proof of insurance must identify the vehicle being registered, showing both the beginning and ending dates of coverage. This information may be faxed to the Ellis County Treasury at (785-628-9470) by the registrant’s insurance company.