Two more banks allow property tax payments

Thursday, October 27, 2005 11:44 AM EDT article source

Even more ways to pay.

Lawrence County Treasurer Stephen Dale Burcham said two more banks have agreed to allow customers to pay their real estate property taxes when they do their banking.

Oak Hill Banks and Liberty Federal Savings Bank are following the lead of Ohio River Bank, City National Bank, Ohio Valley Bank and U.S. Bank in allowing their customers the convenience.

“We're hopeful all of the banks will want to get on board,” Burcham said.

Burcham announced last month that he had approached financial institutions with the idea of collecting property taxes. Residents will still have the option of paying their taxes at the courthouse.

Residents would only be allowed to pay current taxes at the local banks. Delinquent taxes must still be paid at the treasurer's office.

The tax payment option at the local banks will commence next year.

Burcham said he is continuing to explore other ways to make property tax payments easier, if not painless, such as allowing people to pay their taxes on a monthly basis, instead of the twice- a- year plan that is now the only option.

He said he is also continuing to explore the possibility of allowing people to pay taxes on line via their home computers.

Both of these changes would require the purchase of new computer software his office does not yet have.