Tax collection at record level

Aug. 1--JEFFERSON -- A tax milestone was reached this year with the highest tax collection in county history and the lowest tax delinquencies in more than a decade.

The second half of the 2018 real estate tax collection, with more than $40.8 million received, was completed at the end of July, according to a press release from county treasurer Dawn Cragon. This brought the 2018 total collection to $99,251,214.92, the highest annual tax collection in county history by more than $1 million.

Cragon said she is proud of the hard work and dedication of her staff, who will now begin working on collecting delinquent balances.

"My staff and I were successful in collecting over 34 percent of the prior year delinquency total and 96 percent of the current year charges," Cragon said. "After collection closed, our prior year delinquency was down to $8.8 million, the lowest it's been in at least 10 years."

Cragon opened the office full time during the height of tax collection to make it easier for citizens to pay their bills, according to the news release.

Now that the payment season has finished, Cragon has returned window hours from 8 a.m. -- 4 p.m. on Mondays and 8 a.m. -- noon Tuesday through Friday. The hours are this way so Cragon and her team can focus on tax delinquency collection as well as other office duties during the afternoon, the release states.

Cragon reported that for the first time since 2008, annual investment income in the county should exceed $1 million.

"While the investment market has become stagnant overall and experienced diminished long-term public funds offerings, I have been able to ensure that county investment performance exceeds expectations by negotiating better short-term rates and taking advantage of liquid investments," she said. "Protecting taxpayer dollars is critically important to the fiscal health of Ashtabula County and I am proud my education and experience can be used to ensure our investment position is strong and stable."

Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners President J.P. Ducro said the news about collections out of Cragon's office is great for residents and ultimately the general fund.

"She's doing a good job and we're grateful," Ducro said. "It's certainly a big help for us and we hope it is a trend that continues."

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