Property assessment deadline Wednesday

Wednesday is the deadline for assessing personal property for the 2017 tax year and avoiding a 10-percent penalty, the Garland County assessor’s office says.

State law requires residents to report the personal property they own to the county assessor between Jan. 1 and May 31. The county assessor’s office estimates the value of all property in the county. Cars, boats, livestock, motorcycles and recreational vehicles are examples of taxable personal property.

Amendment 71 of the state Constitution exempted household furniture, furnishings, clothing, appliances and other household items from personal property tax.

To assess, call the assessor’s office at 622-3730 or visit http://www.scoutassess.com. Garland County is one of 18 counties set up for online assessments. Property can also be assessed at

the assessor’s office inside the Garland County Government Office Building, 200 Woodbine St.

Taxes on property assessed in 2017 are due by October 2018. A 10-percent penalty will be added if the property is assessed after Wednesday. State law requires drivers to assess their vehicles and pay property taxes before they can renew their vehicle registration.

Property taxes primarily support local schools, but local governments also benefit. Garland County levies 1.2 mills for its General Fund. The county library and National Park College respectively levy 1.6 mills and 0.8 mills. Mountain Pine has a 5-mill tax for its General Fund, and Lonsdale levies 1.6 mills for its General Fund.

Hot Springs began imposing 2.6 mills for its General Fund for the 2016 tax year. The city has said the proceeds will support the Radio Maintenance and Replacement Fund.