By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS – A new feature on Cass County's Web site allows online access to property tax information.
Kerry Collins, Information Systems Department director, who announced the enhancement Thursday to the Board of Commissioners, said it came in response to numerous requests by tax data users, including Realtors, title companies and attorneys.
"We are very interested in meeting the public's demand for Web site services," he said. "Our challenge today is to provide services that are truly needed and not to provide services that only a very few people use or are willing to pay for."
The new Web site addition contains property tax information, including the legal description, the assessment and taxes paid on each county parcel.
Simply log on to the county's Web site at http://www.casscountymi.org and click on "Property Tax Search."
Collins said the site is updated nightly. "So far, it's been a big hit. A lot of people have begun using it. It seems very positive."
As an attorney, Commissioner David Taylor, D-Edwardsburg, said, "If someone were to declare bankruptcy, for example, the value of their home is very important. Or, if someone was purchasing an (overvalued) piece of property, you could warn them using this sort of material. I think it's great."
Vice Chairman Ron Francis, R-Cassopolis, however, said, "Someone expressed to me that this is an intrusion into something they felt was confidential."
Property tax records "have always been open to the public," Collins said.
"It's all public information. It's free and searchable if they come into our office or the treasurer's office.
"It's just an extension of that access. There is no cost at this time."