Town tax receipts down

Whitehall’s town clerk said tax receipts are down more than a $100,000 compared to the same time last year.

Julie Millett told board members that as of Feb. 4, she had received $446,496 in county tax receipts from town residents, nearly $112,000 less than the $558,286 she had collected at the same point last year.

“I don’t know if they don’t have it or if some people are waiting for their (income tax) refunds. I’m not sure; it’s down quite a bit though,” Millett said. “It tells you how much everyone is hurting.”

Every town in the county collects both local and county taxes, but Washington County permits towns to cover their budgeted expenses before collecting its portion.

The town’s total budget for 2013 is $831,342, and that money has been collected.

“We got the money that is our total budget amount,” Millett said.

But the amount of money the county receives—approximately $1.6 million—is down significantly.

She said some people may simply be waiting to pay all their taxes — school, town, county and village — at once. Any time someone fails to pay school or village taxes, what they owe is re-levied onto their town and county taxes, and some residents choose to make a single payment.

“Some people like to pay that way,” Millett said.

Any taxes that remain unpaid after April 1 will be returned to the Washington County treasurer.

Anyone who hasn’t paid by that point may have to pay fines and could face the prospect of having their property seized by the county if they fail to pay.

Millett said she expects more people to pay by that deadline. She said anyone who hasn’t paid their taxes can do so by stopping by the Whitehall Municipal Center or mailing their payment to the town.