Kevin Kinnally, Associate Director of MACo, offered testimony to the Ways and Means Committee on February 12th in support of HB 396 – Property Tax – Optional Installment Payment Schedule

This bill would authorize local governments to provide for an installment payment schedule for county, municipal, or special taxing district real property taxes. HB 396 would move to ensure that local governments would have the flexibility needed to enact policies that would rightfully serve and react to community needs.

From the MACo testimony:

…This bill enables county governments to offer an installment payment schedule for real property taxes that may include any number of due dates scheduled on or after January 1 and on or before July 1 or September 30, whichever is applicable.

Counties appreciate and support the clarifying amendments offered by the bill sponsor to protect against potential unintended consequences for counties that collect real property taxes on behalf of a municipality or special taxing district.

This legislation properly leaves the decision for establishing a property tax installment schedule in the hands of the local governments, who are best situated to determine whether such a policy is in their best interest…

For more on 2019 MACo legislation, visit the Legislative Database.