Free electric, gas permits
Montgomery County is helping the community to rebuild by issuing permits at no charge for electric and gas piping. This waiver is effective immediately for restoring services to properties affected by the recent storms. These waivers will be in effect through July 31.
Property owners will still need to apply for an electric or gas piping permit. Each property will need to be inspected to ensure safety when turning on the utilities, but the fees for these permits will be waived.
For electric and gas reconnects, DP&L and Vectren are already inspecting properties that sustained minor or no damage and restoring service where it can be done safely. If they find damage or leaks, they will inform the owner or tenant to have the damage repaired, and to then contact Montgomery County Building Regulations for permits and inspections.
Any questions concerning permits for safe utility reconnection should be directed to the Montgomery County Building Regulations Department at www.selectmcohio.com/mcohio/building or 937-225-4622. CONTRIBUTED
With so many individuals and families impacted by the Memorial Day tornadoes, it is important that people know where to go to get help. Montgomery County is maintaining a list on its website to help connect people with resources they need, including: ■ Shelter locations
■ Food and water
■ Housing resources
■ Repair guidance
■ Home cleanup resources ■ Debris management and removal information
■ Waste disposal
■ Mental health and emotional support
■ Replacement birth certificates ■ Small business restoration resources
■ Donation information ■ Volunteer coordination
Montgomery County has opened a Family Assistance Center to help people obtain provisional IDs, apply for Job & Family Services benefits, obtain replacement cards for Medicaid/Medicare, get information about senior services, housing and transportation services. Public Health will provide free birth certificates, baby cribs and Hepatitis A vaccines, and intervention services will be available for those with trauma and mental health needs.
The Salvation Army has also opened a Resource Center at its Dayton Kroc Center where people can apply for services from St. Vincent dePaul and Good Neighbor House, and obtain emergency vouchers from the Salvation Army for clothing and other household goods.
Visit www.mcohio.org/alert_ detail.php to see their complete list of resources, along with locations and hours for the Family Assistance Center and Resource Center.
CONTRIBUTED Administration building. Owners of properties that experienced significant damage are eligible to complete the damaged property form, which reduces the taxable value of the property based on the severity of damage.
“It is very important that affected property owners complete the damaged property form,” said Keith. “This program offers substantial tax relief for many tornado victims.”
Graham said, “If you know someone who was a victim of the tornadoes, please reach out and let them know they should apply for the damaged property deduction.”
The destroyed and damaged property form can be found online at www.mcauditor.org or www. co.greene.oh.us/Auditor. Once a property owner has completed the form, they should mail it to their county auditor’s office. The state requires that the form be notarized, so property owners can visit their county auditor’s office if they need a notary. The auditors say affected property owners should complete the form by the end of August.
In Ohio, property taxes are paid a year in arrears. This means that the property tax bills that residents will receive later this month are based on the value of their property on Jan. 1, 2018 and will not reflect damage done to properties by the tornadoes. Instead, property owners who receive the damaged property deduction will see the tax savings on their 2020 tax bills.
The Montgomery County Auditor’s Office will be raising awareness about the damaged property deduction this summer. They have included information about the program with the tax bills that property owners will receive later this month and will be hosting workshops in each affected community to help property owners complete the damaged property form. Keith said his office would announce the details of those workshops later this summer.
The damaged property deduction is a state program that is administered locally by county auditors. Property owners should contact their county auditor’s office if they have questions about the damaged property deduction:
■ Montgomery County: 937225-4326
■ Greene County: 937-562-5065 ■ Miami County: 937-440-5925 ■ Mercer County: 419-586-9425 SUBMITTED