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1. I just bought a new house. What deductions can I get?

There are two basic deductions available. Homestead for owning and living on the property and Mortgage for having a mortgage or contract on the property.

2. I re-financed my mortgage. I was told that I had to re-file my Homestead deduction.

No, you must re-file your Mortgage deduction. If you have closed on the new mortgage on or before December 31st of any given year, you have until January 5th of the following year to re-file your deduction. Failure to re-file will result in the loss of the deduction. (The Homestead deduction does not need to be re-filed unless your primary place of residence changes.)

3. Where do I file my deductions?

All deductions are filed at the Spencer County Auditor's office located on the 2nd floor of the Courthouse.

Tax exempt forms (non-profit) are filed at the Spencer County Assessor's office which is located on the third floor of the Courthouse.

Offices are open in the Courthouse from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Offices do not close for the lunch hour.

Address

Courthouse
200 Main Street
Rockport, IN

4. What is the deadline for filing deductions and exemptions?

The deadline for filing deductions is December 31st of one year to be effective the following tax year. The deadline for filing tax exempt forms (non-profit) is May 15th.

5. What do I need to bring with me to file deductions?

For the Homestead and Mortgage deductions we have the necessary information available in the courthouse. It is helpful to know the name of the mortgage company where you initially financed your loan and the amount of the initial loan. The application must be signed by the applicant.

6. When are taxes due?

The deadline for paying the spring installment is May 10th. The deadline for paying the fall installment is November 10th. For further information on taxes please contact the Treasurer's office.

7. How do I add or remove someone from my property?

You will need to have a deed drawn up. You should contact an attorney, a title company, or an abstract company. You can also obtain do-it-yourself kits at most office supply stores. (The Auditor's office does not create deeds.)

8. What are your transfer fees?

There is a $10.00 per parcel transfer fee on all transfer documents. Plus there is $20.00 Sales Disclosure fee for non-exempt documents. For exempt documents there is no Sales Disclosure fee, only the transfer fee.

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1. What must I do to register to vote?

You must fill out a Voter Registration Application and submit it to your county Voter Registration Office. You must also meet these 4 criteria:

• 18 years old by the next general election
• Have lived in your precinct in Indiana for at least 30 days before the next general election
• Not currently be incarcerated after conviction of a crime
• United States citizen

2. What if I don’t live in a traditional residence?

If you have a non-traditional residence, you still have the right to register and vote. Simply draw a map on the voter registration application indicating where you live (where you usually spend the night) and list a mailing address within your county that can be used to mail your notification that you are registered.

3. Am I already registered?

You can call the Spencer County voter registration office at 649-6017 to see if you are registered.

4. I’m turning 18 right before the election. When can I register? When can I vote?

If you are turning 18 before or on the next general election date, you can register. You can vote in both the Primary and General elections, even if you are not 18 on the Primary election date. However, you will not be eligible to vote on school board members, political party precinct committeemen, or political party state convention delegates elected at the Primary election.

5. Where can I register?

You may register at the Spencer County Voter Registration office or the Circuit Court Clerk office. Both of these offices are located on the second floor of the Spencer County Courthouse in Rockport. You may also register at any city or town hall, all state license branch locations, any Spencer county public library or you may down load the voter registration form from the internet.

6. How do I register?

You only need to fill out a simple form that asks for name, address, birth date and a voter registration number. You will also be required to check boxes on the from to indicate that you are a U.S. citizen and will be 18 on or before election day. The form requests some optional information, such as your telephone number and email address. The form also asks you to list any previous address or name you have used on a former voter registration so that these records can be updated. You must sign the form.

7. What is my voter identification number as required on the form?

The voter identification number is your Indiana driver’s license number. If you do not have an Indiana driver’s license, then you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security number.

8. What if I am unable to fill out the form myself?

Someone can help you fill out the form. If you cannot sign your name, you must make an identifying mark on the signature line. If someone fills out the form for you, that person must write their name and address in the lower right corner of the form.

9. When must I register to vote so I can vote in the next election?

You can register to vote any time of the year. However, to vote in a Primary or General election, you must be registered at least 29 days before the election. A mail-in application must be postmarked 29 days before the election.

10. What do I do when I move?

You must fill out a new registration application. Check address change and fill out all the information, including your previous address. It is important that you do this so we can cancel your old registration.

11. What if I move right before the election?

If you move in the last 29 days before the election, you may still vote. To do so, contact your voter registration office.

12. When will I be registered?

Once your voter registration application is received, the county voter registration office will process the application and determine your eligibility. If you are eligible, the office will send you a voter registration acknowledgment card. Once you receive that card, you will officially be registered. If you are not eligible or there is missing information on your application. You will receive a notice denying the application or requesting more information. If you have not received a voter registration notice form the county office within 30 days, call the county office at 649-6017.

13. Where will I vote?

Beginning with the 2022 primary election you will be able to vote at any of seven locations in the county.  Click the Polling locations tab for a list and location of the seven vote centers located in Spencer County.

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1. When are children most at risk for lead poisoning?

The State of Indiana's Blood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program administered through the Indiana State Department of Public Health targets children under 6 for being the most at risk for lead poisoning due to both age related behavior and brain development.

2. Why is it important to test a child for lead poisoning?

Lead poisoning is totally preventable. The effects of lead poisoning are irreversible! Many children show no symptoms when they have been exposed to lead. Some symptoms like headaches, stomachache, and crankiness are often associated with other common diseases. Lead poisoning causes reduced intelligence, low attention span, reading and learning disabilities, and has been linked to juvenile delinquency, behavioral problems, and many other adverse health effects. High levels of lead can cause coma, convulsions, and death.

3. Where is the lead in a child's environment?

The majority of children poisoned by lead live in homes built and/or painted prior to 1978. These homes contain lead paint, which was outlawed in 1978. As lead paint deteriorates, it creates lead dust. A young child may get lead in their system through inhalation of this dust, or through ingestion of the lead dust that settles on the surfaces in their environment (toys, floor, window sills, clothing, etc.) when they put things in their mouth or fail to wash their hands before eating. Lead paint chips can also taste sweet and some children develop a habit of eating them.

Lead can also be introduced into a child's environment on the clothes of an adult that works in an industry that uses lead like the steel industry, battery factory, etc. Lead can also be found in imported or glazed ceramics, painted antique items, drinking water, and contaminated soil. Lead in soil is usually the result of lead paint from the exterior surfaces of homes painted with lead paint prior to 1978.

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1. What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that usually affects the lungs.  TB sometimes affects other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. The TB disease can cause death if untreated.

2. How is TB spread?

TB germs are spread from person to person through the air. TB germs are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, laughs, or sings. TB is not spread by sharing silverware or cups, sharing cigarettes, or sharing saliva when kissing someone.

3. What are the symptoms of TB?

People with the TB disease often feel weak or sick, lose weight, have fever, and have night sweats. If their TB disease is in the lungs, they may also cough and have chest pain, and they might cough up blood. Other symptoms depend on what part of the body is affected.

4. What is the difference between TB disease and TB infection?

People with TB disease are sick from the large number of TB germs that are active in their body. They usually have one or more of the symptoms of TB disease. These people may pass TB germs to others. The TB disease can cause permanent body damage and death. Medicines which can cure TB disease are given to these people.

People with TB infection also have the germs that cause TB in their body. But they are not sick because there are not as many of the germs, and the germs lie dormant (sleeping) in their body. They cannot spread the germs to others. However, these people could develop TB disease in the future, especially if they are in one of the high-risk groups listed under "Who gets TB disease?" People with TB infection can take medicine to prevent them from developing TB disease.

5. Who gets TB disease?

Once a person has TB infection, he or she has a higher chance of getting TB disease if the person:

• Has HIV infection
• Has been recently infected with TB germs (in the last 2 years)
• Has other health problems, like diabetes, that make it hard for the body to fight germs
• Uses alcohol or injects illegal drugs
• Was not treated correctly for TB infection in the past

6. How can I tell if I have TB?

Get a TB skin test or the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold (QFT) blood test. If you have a positive reaction to either of the tests, you will probably be given other tests to see if you have TB infection or TB disease.

7. How are the TB tests given?

For a TB skin test, a health care worker uses a small needle to put some testing material, called tuberculin, just under your skin. This is usually done on the lower inside part of your arm. After you get the test, you must return in 2 to 3 days to see if there is a reaction to the test. If there is a reaction, the size of the reaction is measured.

8. Where can I get a TB skin test?

You can get a TB skin test from your doctor or local health department.

9. What if the test is negative?

A negative skin test usually means you are not infected. However, the test may be falsely negative if you were infected recently. It usually takes 2 to 10 weeks after exposure to a person with TB disease for your skin test to react as positive. The test may also be falsely negative if your immune system is not working properly.

A negative QFT usually means you are not infected.

10. What if the test is positive?

A positive skin test or QFT usually means that you have been infected with the TB germ. It does not necessarily mean that you have TB disease. Other tests, such as an x-ray or sputum sample, are needed to see if you have TB disease.

11. What if I had the BCG vaccine?

BCG is a vaccine for TB. This vaccine is not widely used in the United States, but it is often given to infants and small children in other countries where TB is common. The BCG vaccine does not usually protect adults against TB. You may still get TB infection or TB disease. Even if you have had the BCG vaccine, you will need a TB skin test or QFT to see if you may have TB infection or TB disease.

12. What should I do if I have TB infection or disease?

Get the required follow-up tests. Follow your doctor’s advice and take the medicine as prescribed. Today, both TB infection and TB disease can be treated and cured with medication.

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1. If I come into your office, can I get my certificate today?

No! Please fill out the application in its entirety, enclose the fee and a copy of your drivers license.  Please also include a self addressed stamped envelope.

2. Do I have to show an ID to get a copy of a birth or death certificate?

Yes, something with your signature and photo if possible.

3. How long does it take to get a copy of a certificate through the mail?

Please allow at least 7 business days to receive your certificate. Our office usually turns all mail requests around in 3 to 5 business days after receipt.

4. Do you have marriage and divorce records?

No, copies of these records can be obtained from the Spencer County Clerk's Office:

Courthouse
200 Main Street
Second Floor
Room 8
Rockport, IN 47635

Phone: 812-649-6027

5. If I was born in another county or state can I get a copy of my birth certificate?

No, this office registers and issues Spencer County birth records only. Each county in Indiana has its own Vital Records Section.

6. Can I get a social security card at your office?

No, social security numbers/cards can only be issued by the Social Security Agency. Please contact the Social Security Office nearest you.