Columbia County gets more tax money on time

The economy and foreclosures don't seem to be keeping many people in Columbia County from paying their property taxes.

The county's tax commissioner's office said Wednesday that its delinquent account total is nearly $1 million less than this time a year ago. The deadline for payment was Saturday, but payments received Monday were still considered on time.

As of Wednesday, with some payments still to be processed, the county tax commissioner's office showed that $9.8 million out of $96.4 million countywide was still uncollected.

Last year, the delinquent amount was $10.7 million out of a total of $89 million.

"That's good to hear if any municipality, if any collections are not far behind," said Rob Braswell, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, adding, "It's getting tough out there."

Escrow accounts could play a part in the change, an official said.

"We have a lot more escrow accounts this year, and I think that may influence the collections," said Diana Hamilton, a financial manager in the tax commissioner's office.

Mr. Braswell said he's not surprised Columbia County is seeing more payments through escrow accounts -- those in which a homeowner has money for property taxes included in the monthly mortgage payment. The mortgage company then pays the taxes.

"I think lenders have gone back to the more traditional underwriting standards," he said, adding that to protect their investment in the current economic climate banks are more likely to require escrow accounts when people buy a new home or refinance.

Statewide, Charles Willey, the director of public information for the Georgia Department of Revenue, said delinquent property tax accounts haven't been a big problem.

Columbia County Commission Chairman Ron Cross said his county's lower delinquent amount was good to hear as it could play a factor when the county negotiates for an improved bond rating from medium AA to AA+ or AAA the first week of December. The last time the county's rating improved, it saved a half million dollars, he said.

In Richmond County, officials haven't compiled figures, and they aren't expected to do so until later this month, said Jack McAdams, of the tax commissioner's office. The deadline for paying property tax in Richmond was Monday. In Aiken County, it's Jan. 15.

Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 823-3338 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.