Sunday, September 05, 1999
Bank to accept tax payments
Sheriff pays fee to free deputies
BY JANE PRENDERGAST
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — Bad news: It's almost property tax time again. But there's a new twist to the dreaded annual rite — Kenton County property own ers have a lot more options for where to pay.
The sheriff's department has started a new plan with Fifth Third Bank. Taxpayers can take their money to any of the bank's Northern Kentucky branches. That gives them more hours every day and weekends to pay their bills.
“This is the modern era,” said Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn, “and we have to move along, you know?”
Though the sheriff has to pay the bank about $9,500 to process the payments, he thinks he'll make that money up in interest from payments made sooner and in savings on personnel costs.
The office would usually hire six to eight part-timers to help process the mail. That number will be about two or three this year instead.
A more intangible savings will come in the hours deputies won't have to spend opening envelopes, Sheriff Korzenborn said. Between 40,000 and 60,000 bills go out annually, the sheriff said, and bring in about $66 million.
“When that mail comes into the office, the volume of just opening those letters requires deputies to stay in here and open the mail,” he said. “I want them out on the road serving papers.”
Deputy Pat Morgan brought the idea up a few months ago, shortly after the sheriff took office in January.
Tax bills go out around the end of the month. Residents who pay by the end of October get a discount on the total. Eighty-five to 90 percent of the bills are paid by then, the sheriff said.
Interest and penalties are added to bills not paid by Dec. 31. Bills can still be paid at both the Independence courthouse and the county building in Covington.
Campbell County Commissioner Bill Verst said there are no plans for a similar program in Campbell County, and Boone County officials have not discussed the possibility of paying taxes through the bank.
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