LAKE HAVASU CITY – Mohave County applied the wrong levy rate and over-billed owners of some 46,000 property parcels in the Lake Havasu Unified School District (LHUSD). The mistake was discovered after the County mailed out thousands of notices for annual property tax payments.
“The Mohave County Financial Services Department made a scriveners error in entering the Class B Bond Debt service levy and rate,” said Financial Services Director Coral Loyd. “This was a clerical error in keying the data into the schedule.”
Communications Director Roger Galloway noted the applied rate was more than 3 times what should have been assessed. “The rate should have been listed on your 2021 Property Tax Statement as $0.2259, but was instead listed at $0.733,” Galloway said.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Buster Johnson said he expected a new outcry of public mistrust of government in Lake Havasu following a backlash from many already upset over COVID-19 and the Presidential election integrity controversies. Johnson, however, said school district taxpayers are taking the overcharging in stride.
“So far, they’ve understood that it was just transposing a number mistake sort of deal,” Johnson said. He said many had not yet paid their bills and are advised to wait for a new notice in the mail.
“We’re sending out another tax bill, so just hold on to the first until you get the second one and pay the second one and you’ll be set,” Johnson said.
Loyd said account credit or reimbursement are options for anyone who already paid erroneous bills.
“If someone has paid the tax or inadvertently pays prior to receiving a corrected statement, they can submit a refund request for the difference and should include name and account/parcel number to Mctreas@mohave.gov if they would like a refund,” Loyd said. “There is no need to contact the Treasurer if they would prefer to carry the amount as a prepayment of future tax.’’
Dave Hawkins
