For questions, please contact the Business Office at 205-439-5555 or nsbusinessoffice@shelbycounty-al.org.
PAY ASSESSMENT HERE
WHAT IS THIS BILL FOR?
In 1988 the voters in five beats or areas of the northern part of the County voted to establish a library district to support public libraries for anyone entering the library or accessing via the internet. They voted to require property owners within these beats to financially support it. Financial support of the District is unaffected by a subsequent annexation (at the owner’s request or otherwise) into a municipality as the mission of the District and the public it serves is unchanged. There is no mechanism to restrict public library services to only those who pay for them, such as occurs when a fire district is taken over by a municipal fire department.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHAT I OWE?
Go online to pay or call the Business Office at 205-439-5555.
HOW CAN I PAY MY BILL?
Pay here, come by the Library between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., mail a check to 5521 Cahaba Valley Road, Birmingham, AL 35242 or call the Business Office at 205-439-5555 to pay by credit card over the phone.
IF YOU PLAN TO ASK THAT LATE FEES, ATTORNEY FEES, INTEREST OR PENALTIES BE WAIVED OR REDUCED, SEND YOUR REQUEST IN WRITING TO THE BOARD AT 5521 CAHABA VALLEY ROAD, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35242. Request to Waive Fees Form
NO ONE IN THE BUSINESS OFFICE CAN MODIFY LATE CHARGES, INTEREST, PENALTIES OR ATTORNEY FEES.
Be forewarned that any bill sent is a courtesy notice, there is no requirement that you receive the bill for it to be past due. So the following reasons will not result in any fees being waived:
- You sent this to my rental house, and my tenant did not give it to me.
- I did not receive a bill.
- My mortgage company pays this.
- You sent it to a house I moved from five years ago.
- You addressed the bill to the former owner.
- I will not break the law by reading someone else’s mail.
MY BILL IS TOO HIGH. WHY WAS I BILLED THIS AMOUNT?
The Tax Commissioner’s office informs us each year of the assessed value of your property. Your bill is calculated at 1.75 mils of that value.
There are two exceptions:
- If you have a homestead exemption on this property, your assessment will not exceed $15;
- if you have an “over age 65” exemption, you will not owe any fee.
If you have any questions about exemptions, please contact the Tax Assessor’s office at (205) 670-6900.
WHAT IF THE COUNTY HAS MY HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, CLASS OR ASSESSED VALUE WRONG?
Contact the Business Office. Staff will coordinate with the Tax Commissioner’s office to make sure that your Library District bill matches any changes the County may have made for this or prior years.
I HAVE FILED MY HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IN COLUMBIANA. WHY DID I GET A BILL FOR MORE THAN $15?
The $15 maximum will not be in effect unless you have a homestead exemption approved and in effect as of October 1st. Our billing is based on October 1st homestead information as provided by the Tax Assessor’s office in Columbiana. If the information is in error, the Tax Assessor’s office must correct its records and then notify us. If there is no homestead exemption approved and in effect, your bill is based on 1.75 mils of the assessed value of your property.
WHAT IF MY PROPERTY IS NOT WITHIN THE LIBRARY DISTRICT?
The Business Office cannot correct this. Send your request, in writing to the Board and include a certified copy of the approved and filed annexation petition done by either the Hoover or Birmingham City Council on or before June 26, 1988. Even though these should have been filed in Shelby County, try looking in Jefferson County if you are sure your property is outside the District. The only involved subdivisions are Southlake, portions of Havenwood, Altadena Woods, Linwood and Brook Highland Shopping Center. Any annexation after June 26, 1988, is not a part of this process.
WHAT IF MY PROPERTY IS IN HOOVER, BIRMINGHAM, CHELSEA, PELHAM, LEEDS, OR VESTAVIA HILLS AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY?
You received a bill because your property was not within any city limit but was located within the North Shelby Library District when the District was established by law in June 1988. Subsequent annexation of your property by Hoover, Birmingham, Vestavia Hills, Pelham, or Chelsea does not negate the requirement that you pay this assessment.
I HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THIS.
Our assessment period is from October 1st through September 30th. If you have received a duplicate bill, please email us at nsbusinessoffice@shelbycounty-al.org. We will review your account: your name & address, payment date, payment amount, type of payment (check, electronic check, credit card, real estate closing), and a phone number where you can be reached.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I DON’T PAY MY BILL?
We will file a written lien in Columbiana and may take whatever actions are available to us to collect the amount owed, including attorney’s fees, late fees, and interest. In addition, your library card may be suspended.
WHY DOES MY BILL INCLUDE PAST DUE ASSESSMENTS THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT PAY?
Anyone acquiring property during the tax year or after October 1st may have effectively acquired the attached tax lien and any outstanding district dues. For this reason, it is the purchaser’s or new owner’s interest to confirm satisfaction of this lawfully attached tax lien. The lien for library assessments attaches to the real property. When you purchased the property, you purchased it with all liens that were attached to it. Please contact your closing attorney or title company concerning fees not collected at your closing. We cannot remove prior fees owed from your bill.
I DIDN’T RECEIVE A BILL. WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY LATE CHARGES?
In Alabama, taxes become due on Oct 1st and are considered delinquent and past due after Dec 31st. Alabama law does not require notice of taxes due. Our annual invoice is a courtesy notice. The tax assessment is due and owed with or without notice to you. Payments postmarked later than Dec 31st, will be charged late fees.
MY REAL ESTATE AGENT TOLD ME MY HOME WAS NOT IN THE LIBRARY DISTRICT.
Unfortunately, no matter what your real estate agent, closing attorney, or seller advised, if your property was in the District when it was established in June 1988, you must pay the assessment.
I AM OVER AGE 65. WHY DID I RECEIVE A BILL?
If you filed an “over age 65” exemption in Columbiana and you received an invoice from us, please contact our office at (205) 439-5500.
WHY DID I RECEIVE A BILL FOR A VACANT LOT?
The library assessment is due on all real property and personal property not exempted from these ad valorem taxes. This includes undeveloped land. It is 1.75 mils of the assessed value. The assessed value is reported to us by the Tax Assessor’s Office.
WHY IS THERE A SERVICE FEE ON MY BILL?
The service fee is to recoup the costs of processing payments. This is similar to the handling fee charged by Shelby County for license tag renewal. Shelby County adds a service charge for any transaction type that has additional fees to process. Making payment by credit card or mail-in check has an additional cost but is a convenience we offer for our patrons.
How to Obtain Parcel ID’s
Go to the Shelby County Property Tax Commissioner site, https://www.ptc.shelbyal.com/ – scroll down and click on Real Property Search, Search by Owner, Property Address, Mailing Address, or Parcel ID #.
IF YOU PLAN TO ASK THAT LATE FEES, INTEREST, OR PENALTIES BE WAIVED OR REDUCED, PLEASE FILL OUT THE REQUEST TO WAIVE FEES FORM BELOW.
Still have questions?
email: nsbusinessoffice@shelbycounty-al.org
fax: 205.439.5503
phone: 205.439.5555
Business Office Hours
Monday – Friday: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Related Links
Ballots and Enabling Act
Pay Library District Assessment
Shelby County Property Tax Commissioner’s Office
Mailing Address:
North Shelby Library
5521 Cahaba Valley Rd
Birmingham, AL 35242
Business Office
205.439.5555
nsbusinessoffice@shelbycounty-al.org
SEND PAYMENTS TO
SERVISFIRST BANK’S PROCESSING CENTER:
North Shelby County Library
P.O. Box 830525
Department # SF 157
Birmingham, AL 35283-0525
Comments? Concerns?
nscomments@shelbycounty-al.org