Steamboat Pilot & Today

Routt County — For those who didn't pay their property taxes in full on April 30 and opted for a two-payment installment plan instead, the final payment deadline of June 15 is approaching fast.
And procrastinators beware, said Routt County Treasurer Jeanne Whiddon, any payments postmarked after the day of the deadline will be charged an additional 1 percent.
"Our hands are tied," Whiddon said. "By state statute, we can't write off interest."
That means that even if people have a good reason for being late or if something unexpected occurs that interferes with paying on time, the Routt County Treasurer's Office has to, by law, tack on the interest charge.
"Being lenient with people doesn't always wash out with the statutes," Whiddon said. "We didn't write the laws, but we do have to enforce them."
The payment window at the Routt County Treasurer's Office will remain open until 5 p.m. Thursday. If people bring in their tax notice with their payment by then, they can get the notice stamped for an instant receipt. Otherwise, a receipt will be sent in the mail.
Mailing the payment also is an option, but Whiddon emphasized the importance of standing in line at the post office to get the envelope hand canceled, instead of dropping it into a mail box at the last minute. To be safe, Whiddon advised to plan ahead and not send in the payment on the last day.
Taxes will be considered delinquent on Friday and delinquent notices will be sent the last week of June. The treasurer's office usually sends out about 7,000 to 8,000 delinquent notices per year, Whiddon said.
Since the end of May, roughly $22.5 million of the total assessed dollars has been collected. The treasurer's office anticipates collecting almost $29.4 million. Routt County will keep about 24 percent of the collected money, while other entities, such as cemeteries and schools, will receive the rest, Whiddon said.
Routt County kept $6.7 million of the total property tax collections in 1999. The schools received 60 percent, or $16.7 million, and other taxing entities got the remaining 16 percent.
The 2001 budget, which this year's taxes will fund, has not been set by the Routt County Board of Commissioners.