By MARK REAGAN
Staff Writer
BROWNSVILLE — Property tax accounts totaling more than $24 million will be handed over to tax attorneys this week to enforce collection.
There are 27,436 taxpayers who haven’t paid up on their 2017 tax accounts for Cameron County and 37 other taxing entities in the county.
All property taxes from 2017 became delinquent Feb. 1.
However, those looking to settle up with the county will have an extra day to do so because June 30 fell on a Saturday and July 1 on a Sunday.
Taxpayers who visit one of the county’s tax offices or mail their tax payments tomorrow will avoid additional collection fees.
“This year our taxpayers have an extra day to pay,” Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre Jr. said.
However, those who don’t take the opportunity will be assessed attorney’s fees between 12.5 percent and 20 percent, along with running the risk of a tax lawsuit.
Those facing economic hardship do have several alternative payment plans to help.
“I urge any property owner who wants to make a payment agreement to visit any of our nine county-wide offices and take advantage of our payment plan options available,” Yzaguirre Jr. said.
“Payment agreements must be signed by Monday, July 2, in order to avoid attorney’s fees. The installment agreements signed provides taxpayers some relief by allowing taxpayers several additional months to pay their taxes in installments without the threat of a lawsuit.”
