By CHRISTOPHER SMITH

Covington County property owners still owe $763,436 in property taxes that are now overdue, according to the Covington County Revenue Commission office yesterday.

The office started with $11.8 million in property taxes, but they have collected $11.1 million.

“Despite the weather we have still had people trickling in to pay on their property taxes,” Diane Thompkins of the Covington County Revenue Commission said Thursday.

Each month that a property owner does not pay his property taxes the interest will go up. Starting Feb. 1, the interest will increase to 2 percent and a $5 penalty per parcel.

“Right now people aren’t too worried about it, but whenever March hits that is when people start to get a little crazy,” Thompkins said.

Starting March 1, the interest will go up to 4 percent interest charge and $20 per parcel.

“We will advertise an auction 3 consecutive weeks in April, but those dates haven’t been determined yet,” Thompkins said, “then the sale will occur in the middle of May.”

Thompkins said that bills can always be paid online at www.covcounty.com since the weather has been unpredictable lately.

The courthouse was closed on Monday, Wednesday and was closed till 10 a.m. yesterday, but will be open all next week assuming if the weather is not dangerous.

Payments may also be made by mail or in person. To pay online or pay by credit card in the office, there will be a 2.35 percent processing fee.

The office is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

For more information call 428-2540.