Calvert County moves tax-billing under treasurer after mailing delays

Calvert County officials told the Board of County Commissioners that a software upgrade and vendor failures caused delays in mailing this year’s property tax bills and that staff will consolidate the tax-billing function under the Treasurer's office to prevent a repeat.

County Administrator Linda Turner outlined the problems: a state Department of Assessments and Taxation report was received in early July, then uploaded into a newly upgraded billing system that produced error codes and integration problems with the county’s printing/mailing vendor. Treasurer Dolina said “There are 41,000 bills that went out,” and staff confirmed bills were available online in mid-August and were mailed the week of Aug. 25, later than in prior years.

Turner and the treasurer described additional issues including returned documents from the printer and an erroneous insert that has since been corrected and posted online. Turner said staff have documented the missteps and will issue a new procurement for printing and mailing next year. She also explained a recommendation to consolidate the tax-billing lifecycle “from cradle to grave” in the Treasurer’s office to streamline accountability and vendor management.

Commissioners supported the plan and approved a motion to consolidate the tax-billing process under the Treasurer before the next tax cycle. The board noted statutory payment deadlines remain unchanged: the law sets the payment due date and the county cannot extend it, and officials reminded residents the statutory due date for payment is September 30.

The county urged residents to contact the Treasurer’s office if they have not received their bill and to use online payment options or the office’s tablets at the window for assistance.