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Tax assessor reports $1,000,006 in November collections, clarifies student ID and quarterly payment rules
Summary
Waller County Tax Assessor‑Collector Carolyn Midke reported October and November collections and said students may use a valid student ID to complete auto‑registration renewals without changing their driver's license address. She clarified quarterly no‑penalty pay options are limited to taxpayers 65 or disabled; others may set payment plans but may incur interest.
Carolyn Midke, Waller County Tax Assessor‑Collector, told the court the county’s October collections totaled $229,000 and November collections were $1,000,006 as tax season ramped up. “So we are definitely in full gear in the tax office and moving forward,” Midke said.
Midke announced a procedural change intended to ease transactions for college students: when students come in to renew vehicle registrations, the tax office will accept a valid student ID and not require students to update their driver’s license address to Waller County. “We will be able to do that,” Midke said, adding the office aims to be more customer friendly.
On payment schedules, Midke clarified confusion from a recent social‑media post about quarterly payments. She said state law (the tax code) mandates an alternative bi‑monthly/quarterly schedule for taxpayers who are 65 or older or who qualify for a disability exemption: those taxpayers may pay on the mandated schedule with no penalty so long as the first payment is made by January. For other taxpayers who cannot pay in full, Midke said the office can set up payment plans but those arrangements may include penalties and interest if balances remain after the statutory deadlines. “If they get it paid by the June, prior to July 1, that's when July 1 is when it makes that big jump and gets turned over to attorneys,” she warned.
Commissioners and staff discussed the cash‑flow implications of an across‑the‑board deferral of payments and thanked Midke for trying to correct the public outreach confusion. Staff indicated the tax office will keep communications consistent and encouraged the public to contact the office to discuss payment options.
The court did not take separate action beyond the presentation; no policy change beyond the announced customer‑service practice was recorded.
