Approximately 950 property tax bills in Orangeburg County have yet to be mailed out, according to County Assessor Jim McLean.

He said property owners receiving their tax bills late will be granted an extension of 30 days from the mailing date to pay. The county normally starts levying penalties if a tax bill is not paid by Jan. 15.

McLean said those 950 pieces of property had to be checked to ensure the accuracy of their assessed tax values.

He said the property owners will be receiving letters telling them their bills are on the way, if they haven't already.

There are more than 72,000 taxable pieces of property in the county. The majority of tax bills were sent out last month.

The county auditor's office prepares tax bills after it receives assessments.

"If they had been turned in, it would have gotten out," said County Auditor Roger Cleckley.

McLean said 98 percent of all property tax assessments were turned in Sept. 28.

"I don't know why they were sent out so late," he said.

Cleckley said scheduling conflicts with the state Department of Revenue's review of the county's millage rollback is one reason for the delay. He said the county also had to implement a new program to conduct its reassessment calculations.

"When you make one delay, it creates a domino effect," Cleckley said.

Orangeburg County Councilman Clyde Livingston said he's concerned the late arrival of some property tax bills will inconvenience taxpayers, particularly if they decide to appeal.

He noted many people like to pay their taxes by Dec. 31 to receive deductions on their 2008 tax returns.

"Obviously, it's a problem," he said.

Property owners who haven't received a tax bill or a notice that one is coming can call 803-533-6220 or visit www.orangeburgcounty.org/treasurer on the Web.

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T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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