San Diego County’s Tax Collector is going after nearly a quarter billion dollars in unpaid property taxes.
Tax Collector Dan McAllister says his staff is working to ensure the county gets all the money it’s owed. Delinquency notices are being sent out this week. McAllister acknowledges the economy is bad, but says the law is clear property taxes must be paid.
“Our office I think is very responsive to the needs of the county to recover its revenues on an annualized basis. We have regular visits by investigators out in the field trying to talk with people and let them know their taxes are owed,” he says.
The number of delinquent tax payers is down slightly from last year. But the amount they owe is up by $12 million. McAllister says active duty military members who were deployed when their taxes were due are exempt from late fees. He says foreclosures have not been a big problem because banks usually pay any property taxes when they take possession of a home.
The County is beginning to look at ways to cut the budget for the next two years and is anticipating California taking as much as $70 million to help cover the state’s deficit.
