Page 3 Jackson County Offers Extended Weekend Hours for Tax Collection Jackson County will offer extended weekend hours for tax collection on the last three Saturdays in December at the County’s Independence courthouse location. The Historic Truman Courthouse, located at 112 W. Lexington in Independence, will be open from 8 a.m. – Noon on December 15, December 22 and December 29. Taxpayers can visit the Truman Courthouse during those times to make in-person tax payments, obtain a copy of their bill or ask questions. “The best way to avoid any issues is to not wait until the last minute. We understand people are busy and can’t always get to the courthouse during business hours,” said Whitney Miller, Director of Collection. “Our goal with extended weekend hours is to alleviate that stress for our customers by providing another level of convenience to navigate and complete this process. We are here to help.”
The Department of Collection mailed nearly 500,000 tax bills during the month of November. Individuals who do not receive a bill are still responsible for paying their taxes. Those who do not receive a bill by December 2nd should check their account online, call the Department of Collection at (816) 8813232, or visit in person to find out the amount due. Payment Options Online – To save time and avoid lines, taxpayers are encouraged to pay online via credit card, debit card or electronic check (E-Check). Online payments must be submitted by 11:00pm on December 31st to avoid penalty. Mail – Taxpayers can simply mail their payment to the address on their bill. Payments must be received or USPS postmarked by December 31st to avoid
penalty. In Person – All forms of payment are accepted in person at the Department of Collection Offices at the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City (415 E. 12th Street) and the Historic Truman Courthouse in Independence during regular business hours. New, extended weekend hours are only available at the courthouse in Independence. Taxpayers must bring their form of payment and their tax bill. If they do not have a tax bill, they can visit the Department of Collection to have one printed. Taxpayers can also look up their account online and print the bill to avoid additional wait time. Drop Box – Drop boxes for property tax payments will be located at the west door of the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City and at the front door of the Historic Truman Courthouse in
Independence. Do not place cash in either drop box. All taxes are due by the December 31st. Jackson County offers relief for seniors through its Senior Citizen Quad Payment Program, which allows them to pay their County real estate tax bills over four equal installments in a year, if they meet the qualifications. The onepage is available on the Jackson County website, www.jacksongov.org, or at the Department of Collection offices. Individuals may also call (816) 881-3232 to have an application mailed to them. For additional questions, visit the Department of Collection webpage, email collections@jacksongov.org, call the Taxpayer Services Unit at (816) 8813232, or visit in person at the county courthouse in Kansas City or Independence.
GVPD Citizens Police Academy Begins January 8th The Grain Valley Police Department is offering citizens a unique opportunity to get a first hand look at the daily operations of
the department. The Citizens Police Academy guides participants through a number of topics, including K9, swat/tactical and bomb squad operations, accident investigations, and firearms safety and training. “This is a great opportunity to ask questions of law enforcement and other entities which work with law enforcement,” Sergeant Curtis VanderLinden said.
Citizens 21 years of age and older who pass a background check are eligible to participate. The program begins January 8th and continues each Tuesday from 6:00pm—9:00pm until March 5th. The majority of classes will be held at the Grain Valley Community Center. Applications for the Citizens Police Academy are available at the police department and online at www.cityofgrainvalley.org. The academy will be limited to 25 participants. One does not need to be a resident to attend, but preference will be given to residents of Grain Valley if the class is full. Applications are due by December 30, 2018. For further information, call 816-847-6250 or email cvanderlinden@grainvalleypolice.org.
Valley News
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