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Council approves two‑installment option for vehicle tax bills of $500 or more
Summary
East Hampton voted 6–1 to allow motor‑vehicle tax bills of $500 or more to be paid in two installments; staff will pursue reminder methods to limit mailing costs and monitor impacts on tax‑office workload.
The East Hampton Town Council voted to permit motor vehicle tax bills of $500 or more to be paid in two installments, a change aimed at easing payment burdens for residents while limiting additional administrative work for the tax office.
Staff explained state law permits dividing bills above $100 and provided a breakdown showing the vast majority of motor‑vehicle bills in town are under $500. The council discussed tradeoffs: lower thresholds help more residents but increase the number of payments town staff must process. Finance staff recommended a $500 threshold as a compromise that would assist many households without dramatically increasing front‑desk transactions.
Council voted 6–1 in favor of allowing two payments for vehicle tax bills of $500 or more. The finance director and tax collector indicated the town will use a single mailed bill formatted for two payments and pursue low‑cost reminder methods (email or text) rather than issuing a separate mailed reminder to limit postage costs. Staff noted split payments could increase delinquencies but also produce additional interest revenue if payments are missed.
Implementation: staff will update billing forms and procedures for the current tax cycle, coordinate notice language, and monitor administrative load and delinquency rates.
