WALHALLA — The Oconee County Council is expected to get more information tonight on whether taxpayers could be allowed more time to pay property taxes without penalty.

Interim Administrator Gene Klugh said he expects County Attorney Tom Martin to make a presentation to council on the matter. Tonight’s regular council meeting begins at 7.

Martin said on Monday he’ll be ready to report to council, if asked, on the state legislation approved this year that would allow county governments to take such action.

“I don’t have a recommendation,” Martin said. “I do have some legal concerns and issues that would have to be examined, and I will be happy to do whatever Oconee County wants me do with this issue.”

Council said at its previous meeting that it would consider giving taxpayers more time to pay their property taxes, after rejecting Councilman Wayne McCall’s idea for an across-the-board tax break.

McCall presented a motion to reduce the tax mileage for the 2009-10 fiscal year by an amount that would remove $6 million from the budget as a way to stop the overtaxation of residents. The motion died for lack of a second.

Councilmen Paul Corbeil and Joel Thrift brought up the option of deferred payments on property taxes without penalty.

The General Assembly ratified a joint resolution providing for “waiver or reduction of property tax penalties.” Approved June 2, the legislation allows County Council to waive or reduce the late payment penalties “otherwise applicable for taxes due on real property for property tax years 2008 and 2009 …”

State lawmakers approved the measure in hopes of giving taxpayers a little breathing room in light of the downturn in the economy and high unemployment numbers.

According to the law, the late payment penalties may be waived or reduced as long as the full property tax payment is made by April 15 of the applicable tax year.

Furthermore, the law states that each local taxing entity within the county (including the school district and municipalities) must notify the county of its consent to any such resolution that would waive or reduce penalties for late payments.

Discussion of the resolution comes at a time when tax notices have been delayed in going out to taxpayers.

Oconee County Auditor Ken Nix said last week that he requested and received a second extension from the state Department of Revenue. A listing of taxpayers’ obligations should have been ready for public inspection at the Auditor’s Office by Sept. 30.

carlos@dailyjm.com | (864) 882-2375