Published Friday, October 23, 2009 6:05 AM

Property tax bill is coming

By CASSIE SMITH
cassie.smith@theeagle.com

Tax bills should begin arriving in mailboxes next week for about 90,000 Brazos County property owners.

Brazos County Tax Assessor-Collector Kristeen Roe said property taxes from the cities of Bryan, College Station and Kurten, along with unincorporated areas of the county, two school districts and part of the Navasota school district and four emergency service districts will generate about $231 million. Brazos County brings in a little more than $50 million by itself, Roe said.

Roe said the tax office offers a split-payment option, with the first payment due by Nov. 30 and the second payment due June 30, to ease the burden on taxpayers.

"We really bend over backwards," Roe said. "We do everything we can to try and get people in."

The deadline for owners making a single payment is Jan. 31.

Roe said property owners should review their bills to ensure that they are accurate.

The tax office has a collection rate of 97 percent to 98 percent, she said.

"We actually work with people paying their property taxes for several months before they are formally considered late," she said.

The penalty and interest rates for late payments are set by state law, Roe said. Even if a property owner can't afford to pay the entire tax bill, it's better to pay as much as possible, because penalties and interest rates are based on the remaining balance, she said.

If someone consistently does not make an effort to pay, Roe said, officials can take those owners to court or begin the process of selling the property.

But, Roe said, that's a last resort.

"We'd whole lot rather help you get it paid than start charging penalties and interest," she said. "We know we're the messenger everyone wants to shoot."

Tax payments can be mailed or made in person at the Brazos County Tax Office, 300 E. William Joel Bryan Pkwy. in Bryan. A drop slot for after-hours payments is in the property tax door facing William Joel Bryan Parkway, and a drop box is available during business hours. Receipts are mailed to property owners.

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