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to four years. By that time the software we’re currently using will be 15 years old which <br />is Jurassic in computer terms. <br />MS. O’HARA: <br /> One last question, it had been practiced, and I don’t know if it still is, that <br />one was able to get a homeowner’s exemption on an unpermitted residence. Is that still <br />the case? <br />MR. SITKO: <br /> That is currently the case. We’ll also tax the property. The ordinances <br />just tell us to go out there and tax whatever we find. And that’s what we do. <br />MR. TAKABA: <br /> If somebody is living in a bus, will that be taxed? <br />MR. SITKO: <br /> If it is permanently affixed to the ground, yes. I actually do have <br />somebody cemented the wheels of the trailer into the ground. I have pictures of it. And <br />have a shed at the other end of this thing. They are living in it. They fulfill the <br />requirements of owning the land, having a permanent structure affixed to the ground <br />and owning it as of a certain date. So they get the exemption. <br />MR. TAKABA: <br /> So in some cases by getting the exemption, they actually pay less than <br />if they just didn’t have anything on the property? <br />MR. SITKO: <br /> Definitely. In addition to the lower rate that you get as in the homeowners <br />class, you also have an exemption amount on there. And considering the value of <br />some of these structures, it’s minimal, so you already have what would normally be <br />attributed to the land, is being reduced. <br />MR. TAKABA: <br /> So even if you added value to the property, you pay less in taxes? <br />MR. SITKO: <br /> Fundamentally, yes. Let’s say if you were on an agricultural parcel you’d <br />paying $9.85 per thousand. On the land, let’s say the land is $100,000, they put up a <br />framed utility shed that they’re living in. We just maybe we’ll assess at a nominal <br />10,000 or something. But now if they’re in a homeowner’s class, first we exempt at <br />least 40,000 plus 20 %, then we apply $5.55 per thousand, so I think you can see the <br />math. You would wind up actually paying less. <br />MS. O’HARA: <br /> Just my observation would be that this would encourage unpermitted <br />buildings to proliferate through the county. <br />MR. SITKO: <br /> I can’t speak to that. My job is to tax unless fundamentally <br />MS. O’HARA: <br /> But the county would be making greater revenue if they didn’t recognize <br />these structures if it <br />MR. SITKO: <br /> If it was unpermitted, yes. But that would require a change in the <br />ordinances at this time. <br />MR. ARMOUR: <br /> Is there any requirements for the real estate agents to turn in people <br />that they have represented their property as ag when they’re really not ag property? <br />10 <br /> <br />