Half of county property tax bill due April 30

Spokane County property owners are being reminded that half of their 2012 property tax bill is due at the county treasurer’s office by April 30.

Payments made by mail must be postmarked by that date to avoid penalties imposed under state law.

The treasurer staff reported recently that 11,000 parcels have late-payment penalties attached to them.

Penalties could grow to 23 percent of the amount owed after one year of non-payment, but County Treasurer Rob Chase said he would like to see those penalties reduced.

“A 23 percent penalty is like throwing an anchor to a drowning man,” Chase told commissioners last month.

He said he is seeking to reform the system to allow for monthly payments. But those changes require legislative action.

Partial payments are not allowed.

Currently, the county has 217,000 parcels, of which 62 percent are paid directly by property owners. Another 37 percent are paid by mortgage companies.