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Treasurer: collections and online payments up; committee weighs monthly tax installments
Summary
The treasurer reported stronger-than-expected tax collections and a sharp rise in electronic payments; committee members asked staff to research monthly installment options and approved two routine tax-sale assignment resolutions.
Doug Trager, committee chair, heard the county treasurer report that sales-tax receipts and property-tax collections in July are stronger than expected and that electronic property-tax payments have risen sharply. The treasurer said the office distributed $66,000,000 on July 7 and reported an increase in electronic payments this year compared with last year. He told the committee, "over the last course of the 2 years, we've seen the online payments, more than double." He also said the county has a $1 million certificate coming due next week and that short-term yields are commonly in the 4–4.15% range; overall fund yields were described as “around” the mid‑3 percent range and some bond accounts are yielding about 4%.
The treasurer reported the office had collected about 22% of outstanding taxes so far this year, compared with about 16% at the same point last year. He noted the office is preparing a surplus-auction packet, with sealed bids due on the 19th and a press release already distributed in July.
Committee members asked whether the county can offer monthly tax payment plans. Miss Bernal said, "I think it would really help some of our residents ... It's a large amount of money to come up with at one time." The treasurer and other members raised operational concerns: installment plans can create extra work, refunds, or shortfalls because taxpayers may not know their final tax bill and the county’s auto‑pay system would need to support recurring, electronic arrangements. The treasurer said he would check whether the county’s electronic-pay vendor can process monthly installment plans and report back.
The committee approved two routine resolutions that authorize the county board chair to assign mobile-home sale tax certificates to specific parcels in Rutland Township and Groveland Township. Mister Templeton moved the motion, Mister Bailey seconded it, and the roll call vote was unanimous: all aye, motion carries.
No policy change was adopted on monthly installments; the matter remains under study pending vendor capability and an assessment of administrative impacts.
