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Property taxes arriving slowly
Published Thursday, November 12, 2009
With only a month and a half left to go until the property tax collection deadline, Covington County has only received about 14.6 percent of its collections, revenue commissioner Janice Hart said Thursday.
This year, the county expects to receive approximately $11.36 million from taxpayers. As of Thursday, only about $1.66 million had been collected.
“It’s seemed to slow down considerably lately,” Hart said. “Right now, we’re not even a quarter of the way through. Usually around Thanksgiving you see a decrease, but this year it seems like collections have slowed down two weeks earlier than most years.”
The property tax collection period began on Thurs., Oct. 1 and will continue until Thurs., Dec. 31.
Hart added that some mobile home owners have only until Mon., Nov. 30 to purchase their registration.
“If you don’t come in and purchase a decal, there will be a late fee after Nov. 30,” she said. “This registration is for anyone who owns a mobile home, but it’s not situated on their own property.”
Hart said it’s not clear why collections have been slow this year, but she believes it could be due to the economy.
“Times are hard, so people might just be holding onto their money as long as they can,” she said.
Residents who miss the Dec. 31 deadline to pay their property taxes — either by mail or in person at the courthouse — will be subject to a penalty fee.
The revenue commissioner’s office is open during normal working days, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Property owners who pay through the mail should send their bills and payment to “Revenue Commissioner, 1 North Court Square, Suite G, Andalusia, AL 36420.”
Comments
Posted by swswilliam (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 6:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OF COURSE it's the economy. I'm one of those people who haven't paid their taxes yet...and won't until the very last days of December.
Posted by SouthernAttitude1 (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 6:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You will see mine December 31. Our house is paid for and has been many years. Don't think it is right to give our local government money on something I own free and clear.
Posted by DarrylDavis (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SouthernAttitude1, I agree with your comment. The reason that you must pay a fee or lose your property and house to the "local government" is because owning property is a " privilege" just like driving a car , hunting , fishing, going to a store, getting married etc.
You will notice that all of the privileges that I listed require a tax , fee , permit or a license for participation. It is always the police or the enforcers of policy (change the e in police with a y and you get policy) that see that obediance to these policys takes place (laws).
If John Jones kills John Smith , when Mr. Jones goes to court to be tried for Mr Smiths death the court docket will not say " The family of Mr Smith verses Mr. Jones" but rather will say in this State " The State of Alabama verses Mr. Jones"(Mr. Smith must belong to the State of Alabama) so evidently we do not belong to ourselves even though we are taught that we have a constitution and are a free State and a free Nation. You are considered a fiction to government as every document that you will recieve from government will have your name in "ALL CAPITAL LETTERS"( This is not how you learned to write your name in school) /// Look at your drivers license and you will see this for yourself.
In reference to the property tax , if we are considered fiction in law and we do not belong to ourselves then we belong to someone else and are not "free" so an unfree man cannot own property without paying a fee for the privilege of per say property ownership. This is what I have dug up in years of research and some folks may disagree . Thanks for your comment.
Posted by SouthernAttitude1 (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Darryl, I understand the reasoning. I just don't agree with it. Too much government inteference in our everyday lives. I do as much as possible to lessen their meddling in my affairs.
As far as owing property being a privelege , I somewhat disagree. Hard work and determination brought that about. Uncle Sam did not nail one nail or earn one dollar toward my house. Therefore, I don't believe they have any right to tax it. Just a bunch of thieves hiding behind laws.
Your explanation was great and may open the eyes of some who don't understand the depths of our so called freedoms and priveleges.
Posted by Parley (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Government makes fiscal policy which controls our economy, so Government should revise such policies that exist in order to improve the economy.
We are a representative republic, not a true democracy. We vote for our representatives and they are ethically bound to represent us. Should they fail, we have to vote someone in that will represent us.
Problem is, very few incorruptable folks are willing to walk thru the vetting process and stand up for us.
We need folks that will truly represent the people and their interests, rather than feather their own nests.
There should consider a moratorium on tax's or at the very least reduce tax's until the economy improves..
After all they control the economy .... ask any businessman/woman ....
Posted by sponqebob (anonymous) on November 13, 2009 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
freedom? what is that?
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