New Property Tax Installment Plan [TIP]

Shirley Washington is a long-term Loaned Executive from the office of Summit County Fiscal Officer John Donofrio. She shared this important news with us recently.

Summit County Fiscal Officer-John A. Donofrio-has implemented a payment plan to help homeowners facing difficulty in paying their current real estate tax bill. Homeowners who pay taxes directly to the county are eligible to apply.

This plan is designed for persons who can not afford to pay the current due bill. The plan will help avoid late payment penalties and fines that amount to about 21% of the annual tax bill. A fee of 5% of the total tax bill being paid must accompany the application for enrollment in the TIP.

The application can be found on the Fiscal Office website - http://www.co.summit.oh.us/fiscaloffice. Select “property tax information”, click on TIP [PDF], enter the parcel number and generate a completed application form, displaying the calculated fee. The 5% fee MUST be enclosed with the application.

Each approved applicant will receive a packet containing remittance forms and envelopes for the installment payments. For assistance, please call the Fiscal Office at 330-643-2590 or send e-mail tip@summitoh.net . Applications must be received in the Fiscal Office-175 S. Main Street-3rd Floor –Akron, 44308 or postmarked by deadline of Friday-February 20, 2009.

Reality Check Opens Akron High School Students' Eyes

United Way of Summit County was once again pleased to participate in the 'Reality Check' program at an Akron Public High School. Today, Ellet joined past participants East and Garfield in holding this innovative program that exposes 10th graders to the costs that come with being an adult.

In preparation for the Reality Check day, students choose a career they'd like to have someday. Their teachers evaluate if that's a realistic goal - based on the student's grades, attendance and other factors. When the students arrive at the gym on Reality Check day, they're given a sheet with their occupation listed along with their monthly gross salary.

Then comes the Reality part.

All around the gym are tables under banners like 'Uncle Sam,' 'Banking,' 'housing,' 'transportation,' and more. The students have to visit each one and discover how far their income takes them (or in many cases, doesn't take them).

The first stop is of course Uncle Sam where the students learn that taxes take a large portion of their money. They're encouraged to visit the bank and put some money away in a savings account.

Then the decisions start - buy a house or rent an apartment? Used car or a bus pass? High fashion or thrift store?

One of the real eye openers for many students is the cost of childcare. You hear many participants walking past saying "I didn't know it was so expensive to have kids!"

And I get to sit at the 'Contributions' table, which is always an enlightening experience. Some students seek me out. They want to tithe the required 10% to their church. Others have very high paying jobs and a lot of money left over after visiting all the tables, and they compete with other students to make the largest contribution.

Reality Check is a great program in the Akron Public Schools, and I am very glad to be a part of it each year.

Mmmmmmmmmmmm..... Soup!

The 2nd Annual Soup-er Bowl, hosted by the City of Akron to benefit United Way of Summit County was another big success.

Our thanks to Nicole Read from the Akron Recreation Bureau for managing the whole process. She's already thinking of new ways to make the event even bigger and better for next year.

Thanks to the restaurants that participated: Hackers Bar & Grille, The Ido Lounge, Kevin O'Brien's Pub, Ivan's Deli, Panera Bread, and Spinelli's. All the soup was so wonderful!

Thanks to everyone who joined us to help raise more than $900!

Read the story from Sunday's Akron Beacon Journal here.