PERSONAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT LISTS MAILED

JACKSON - Cape Girardeau County personal property assessment lists for 1993 are all in the mail and Assessor Jerry Reynolds is advising residents that failure to return them by March 1 will result in an increased assessment.

Under a law that took effect last year, the assessor is required to increase the personal property assessment by 5 percent for each month the list is turned in late. That means a $1,000 assessment for a vehicle would grow to $1,500 by the end of the year.

The impact would be especially great on businesses that have a lot of equipment, or on people with newer cars.

Reynolds said he is not sure how many taxpayers were assessed penalties last year, but stressed anyone who has not gotten a form or has misplaced the one they received, needs to contact his office right away.

"All personal property lists are out and if anybody hasn't received one they need to get in touch with us right away to avoid penalties," suggested Reynolds. "This is not something people will want to ignore."

The form asks residents to list the personal property items they own; using the term "same as last year" is not acceptable, Reynolds said. Everyone must list what they have as personal property. Once tax rates are set by the various entities in the county, then that rate is applied to the assessment.

For most people, personal property amounts to vehicles, recreational vehicles, and boats and motors. But it also includes livestock, farm equipment, manufacturing and business equipment.

Personal property is based on what was owned as of Jan. 1. About 26,000 forms were mailed out earlier this month.

Reynolds said anyone who has not received a list or who has questions about what to include should call his office. In Cape Girardeau, the assessor has an office in the Common Pleas Courthouse Annex and the phone number is 334-8876. In Jackson, the office is on the main floor of the county administration building and the number is 243-2468.