Today is the deadline for San Diego County residents to pay the first installment of their 2009-10 property taxes.
Late property tax payments will be assessed a 10 percent penalty, according to San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister.
"We know it's a difficult time economically," McAllister said. "This is clearly not one of the better years we have seen in San Diego, but we are hopeful that the New Year will bring reason for more optimism and hope that our economic circumstances will begin to improve in 2010."
Last September, a record 980,784 property tax bill were mailed to San Diego County property owners.
The 2009-10 property taxes are due in two equal installments, the first today and again on April 10, according to McAllister.
McAllister said his office expects to collect $50 million less in property taxes this year, compared to last year, due to lowered assessed property values.
Property owners can pay their tax bills online at www.sdtreastax.com, or by calling (877) 829-4732. Payments can also be made at any of the five Treasurer-Tax collector's offices located in downtown, Kearny Mesa, Chula Vista, El Cajon and San Marcos.
