A number of the duties performed by the Audit-Finance Department are the responsibility of the County by statute, including the responsibility for tax distributions. Shawnee County Audit-Finance is responsible for distribution of all taxes collected by the Treasurer’s office. The distribution process includes running reports, balancing accounts and checking account numbers, as well as the actual distribution of funds by check or wire transfer. Taxes are distributed six times per year as determined by the State guidelines.

The County distributes many types of taxes. The majority of taxes distributed are property taxes. This includes real estate taxes and taxes for personal property including mobile homes. The County also distributes motor vehicle and recreational vehicle taxes. Excise taxes, special assessments, and Neighborhood Revitalization Act (NRA) rebates are also distributed through the same process.

The groundwork for the tax distribution process is set when the various taxing entities throughout the County create a budget and set their levies. The levies are entered into the County’s mill levy system by the County Clerk’s office. This mill levy table is then used to calculate taxes when real estate and personal property tax statements are sent out in November and then again when taxes are later distributed after collection by the Treasurer’s office.

The Audit-Finance Department also audits the process of collecting taxes. When the Treasurer’s office receives tax payments, the funds are deposited into holding accounts. These funds are essentially held in trust for the various taxing entities until a tax distribution is done. The Audit-Finance Department is responsible for balancing tax deposits and refunds daily. Any idle tax funds are invested by Audit-Finance until the next tax distribution.