Property tax bills return to Courthouse

Elvis Presley’s hit single “Return to Sender” could be the theme song for the County Treasurer’s Office as incorrect address information has caused a flood of property tax bills to return to the Courthouse over the past four days.

With the May 10 deadline to pay property taxes only three weeks away, hundreds of residents have yet to receive their property tax bills. Stacks of the returned envelopes are currently piled high on a large table in the Treasurer’s Office, while employees scramble to find the correct addresses, load them into the county system and send the bills on their way.

“There are probably 175 to 180 that have already been taken care of and mailed,” Treasurer Brenda Hamilton said, explaining some addresses or post office boxes have changed or snowbirds, who haven’t returned to Huntington from warmer climates, stopped their mail during their absence and neglected to leave a forwarding address. “People need to get into the habit of making sure that we know, just like you would tell the electric company or the phone company.”

Hamilton said the Post Office was able to provide some of the residents’ new information, but her staff has spent the past few days scouring the Internet in search of updated addresses when they aren’t customers.

“We’re trying to send them out as fast as possible,” Hamilton said, recalling the mailman returned yet another stack of bills Monday with the morning mail. “I hope that’s the end. There are always a few that we can’t find anything. Eventually it (the property) will get sold, if it gets that far behind, at tax sale.”

Hamilton was unaware of how much in County tax dollars the stacks of envelopes represent, but said her main concern is getting the tax bills out to the people as quickly as possible.

“We’ve started recognizing some of these and saying, ‘Oh my gosh. They have a business and everything,’” Hamilton explained. “We feel for these people.”

Commissioner Tom Wall said residents need to ensure the Treasurer’s Office has their correct mailing information.

“If anyone has not received their tax bill, come down and see the Treasurer,” Wall said.

Property tax bills can be paid by cash or check at the Treasurer’s Office or at most local banks. For a 2.9 percent convenience fee, property taxes may be paid by credit card via www.huntingtontax.net or by calling 1-800-809-5849 and speaking with a representative. Credit cards cannot be used in the Treasurer’s Office.