MAHONING COUNTY Treasurer tries to boost property tax collections

Those who don't pay by Nov. 26 will be subject to heavier penalties.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Just in case people didn't get the message the first two times, Mahoning County Treasurer John Reardon is giving them another chance to pay their property taxes.
His employees have mailed a third round of tax bills to property owners who haven't paid all their taxes due for the year.
The extra billing is not required by Ohio law. Reardon said he sees it as a way to boost collection of delinquent taxes.
Tax bills are generally mailed in February and July each year. Penalties on any of those unpaid bills have already been assessed and cannot be avoided, Reardon said.
The advantage of paying now is that property owners can be spared additional interest and penalties, he said.
Stiffer penalties: Those who don't pay by the Nov. 26 deadline will have their properties certified as delinquent. They will be subject to the heavier penalties and will have their name published in the newspaper as part of an annual tax delinquency list.
"Our office is doing everything possible to substantially reduce the tax delinquency problem in Mahoning County," Reardon said. "This third billing will actually help prevent additional delinquency because it serves as a reminder to people that their taxes are unpaid and will be certified delinquent if payment is not received."
Reardon said his office got several phone calls this week from people who received the notices and want to pay their taxes. He expects this third round of billing to bring in about $1 million in taxes.
bjackson@vindy.com