Linn County Treasurer Sharon Gonzalez leveraged an important contact to significantly help county taxpayers as the flood water started to rise.
During a September 24th meeting with former county treasurer and Iowa Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, Sharon learned about a special disaster proclamation that would grant a one-month property tax payment extension for Linn County residents.
Two days later, at Sharon’s suggestion and at the formal request of the Linn County Board of Supervisors, the extension was granted by the Governor’s Office. It gave Linn County residents until October 31 to pay the first semiannual installment of their property tax payment.
Meanwhile, Sharon’s office didn’t skip a beat as it continued to serve county residents. When the Public Service Center closed to the public on September 26 due to forecasted flooding, Sharon’s staff quickly moved most of their normal business functions to the Community Services Building.
The department also arranged to have a mobile unit from the Iowa Department of Transportation available in the parking lot of the Community Services Building to process motor vehicle transactions.
“County residents who were fighting for their homes and businesses had enough to worry about,” said Gonzalez. “Paying property taxes and accessing our services didn’t have be among them.”