EDITORIAL: Late tax bills present case for local government restructuring

The Journal & Courier

Property tax bills are late -- again -- and payments are due on Oct. 30 and six weeks later on Dec. 11.

Normally, property taxes are due May 10 and Nov. 10. Staggering the payments by six months gives property owners time to put money back for the taxes.

In the best circumstance, property owners have been saving the money in anticipation of the taxes, and the six weeks between payments will not be a problem.

But in this recession, some families might have dipped into those savings or might be hit with higher than expected bills and come up short.

The explanations from tardy taxpayers are not likely to be accepted by officials -- and they shouldn't be. After all, they knew they would owe property taxes and should have prepared for them.

But the same principles apply to those responsible for tax bills.