Tax bills are in the mail as the Monroe County Treasurer’s Office is set to collect $51.56 million in property taxes this year, up slightly from $50.78 million last year.

These taxes support the local schools, road districts and municipalities, as well as the county itself.

The county’s portion of this year’s tax bill is down slightly —   $6.52 million compared to $6.59 million last year. The county’s current tax rate is .86320 percent, which is down from last year’s rate of .88125 percent.

“Overall, real estate taxes are up slightly across the county,” Monroe County Treasurer Kevin Koenigstein said. “The county portion is down for the third year in a row, mainly due to payoff of the courthouse bond and the refinancing of nursing home bonds.”

First payments are due by Friday, Sept. 18, with the second installment due Wednesday, Oct. 28. Bills can be paid at local banks, at the treasurer’s office in the courthouse, or by mail. For more information, call 939-8681, ext. 213.

“We encourage everyone to pay early if they can,” Koenigstein said.

The overall tax rate in Waterloo is down, while the rates in Columbia, Valmeyer, Hecker,

Maeystown and Fults are up just slightly from one year ago.

For a breakdown of tax rates in Monroe County municipalities, see the chart below.

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Comparative tax rates for Monroe County municipalities for tax levy year 2014, payable in 2015.
 
Waterloo taxing districts
Monroe County: 0.88125
School District: 4.23480
SWIC: 0.41797
City of Waterloo: 0.53987
Park District: 0.13194
Cemetery District: 0.00439
Fire District: 0.19326

Total rate: 6.38543

(Real estate tax on a $150,000 home assessed at $50,000 = $3,193)

Columbia taxing districts
Monroe County: 0.86320
School District: 4.73555
SWIC: 0.41797
City of Columbia: 0.94074
Fire District: 0.13100

Total rate: 7.08846

(Real estate tax on a $150,000 home assessed at $50,000 = $3,544)

Valmeyer taxing districts
Monroe County: 0.86320
School District: 4.67426
SWIC: 0.41797
Vill. of Valmeyer: 0.95343
Fire District: 0.30263
Library District: 0.12410

Total rate: 7.33559

(Real estate tax on a $150,000 home assessed at $50,000 = $3,668)

Hecker taxing districts
Monroe County: 0.86320
Waterloo Schools: 4.23480
SWIC: 0.41797
Vill. of Hecker: 0.63732
Fire District: 0.33449

Total rate: 6.48778

(Real estate tax on a $150,000 home assessed at $50,000 = $3,244)

Maeystown taxing districts
Monroe County: 0.86320
Valmeyer Schools: 4.67426
SWIC: 0.41797
Vill. of Maeys.: 0.50811
Fire District: 0.44287
Val. Library Dist.: 0.12410

Total rate: 7.03051

(Real estate tax on a $150,000 home assessed at $50,000 = $3,515)

Fults taxing districts
Monroe County: 0.86320
Valmeyer Schools: 4.67426
SWIC: 0.41797
Vill. of Fults: 0.47064
Fire District: 0.44287
Road District: 0.62097
Val. Library Dist.: 0.12410

Total rate: 7.61401

(Real estate tax on a $150,000 home assessed at $50,000 = $3,807)