Deadline approaches for Gwinnett first-half taxes

By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Property tax collections for Gwinnett County are running at about 25 percent, according to figures from the tax commissioner's office. So far, the county has collected about $222 million in taxes. A steady stream of mail continues to flow into the office as property owners work to meet Thursday's deadline for first-half payments, said Paula Martin, business services manager for the tax commissioner.

Tax notices were sent out last month -- two months later than normal -- because of the county's failure to establish a mill levy. A special court order was issued in August allowing the county to collect taxes based on the 2008 mill levy of 10.97 mills.

The official 2009 mill levy remains in limbo until the county can work out a state-mandated service agreement with its 15 cities. Both sides remain deadlocked over whether city residents should pay more to the county in property taxes to compensate for certain taxes paid exclusively to the county by unincorporated residents. That issue has yet to be decided by a Blairsville judge.

County commissioners had sought a temporary mill rate of 11.18 mills, which would have kept county property tax revenues the same as last year. But Superior Court Judge R. Timothy Hamil specified the mill levy remain the same as last year. That ruling could cost the county about $6 million in collections due to declining property values.