Georgetown, Del., Aug. 5, 2009: Sussex County is taking its annual tax billing into the digital age, printing fewer paper bills this year to collect money that will fund local government services and schools.

This month, the County’s Treasury Division will issue more than 167,000 annual tax bills for the 2010 fiscal year, totaling an estimated $100.6 million in revenue. However, the County will print and mail only 129,000 paper bills. The remaining 38,000 will go ‘virtual,’ through computers, to mortgage lenders, requiring no paper, postage or time to distribute.

Amanda M. Bennett, director of the County’s Treasury Division, said 2009 is the first year that certain property owners will not receive a paper copy of their statements. The County has shifted to a paperless billing system for those property owners whose taxes are paid by mortgage lenders, through what is known as escrow accounts. Property owners with escrow accounts have their taxes collected as part of their mortgage payment. They can view their tax bills online, and can still request a paper copy of their account’s status, if needed.

“We have reduced the number of paper copies printed by almost 25 percent,” Ms. Bennett said. “That represents a significant savings, almost $21,000, in the amount of paper, time and postage that goes into producing and mailing these documents. That’s a big savings, especially in these tighter financial times, and I hope that number only increases in the future.”

Annual tax bills include County property taxes, as well as County sewer and water, tax ditch and street lighting fees, where applicable. Additionally, tax bills include local school district taxes, which are collected by the County, but turned over to the State. Delaware law requires Sussex County to bill property owners for school taxes on behalf of the eight public school districts within the county. Approximately 10 percent to 14 percent of the typical residential tax bill is for County property taxes.

Bills began mailing in the first week of August, and will continue throughout the month. Payment is due by Sept. 30.

Sussex County accepts tax payments by cash, check, money order or credit card. Taxpayers have different options to make their payments. These include:

THROUGH LENDER

Many taxpayers have their annual taxes paid out of an escrow account by their mortgage lenders. If these taxpayers have any questions regarding the status of their escrow accounts, they should contact their lenders.

ONLINE

Payment can be made on the Internet, with the use of most major credit cards or by check. Go to sussexcountyde.gov/pay-your-bill for more information.

BY MAIL

Property owners can mail their tax payments using the return envelopes included in their statements. Bills should be addressed to the Sussex County Treasury Division, PO Box 429, Georgetown, DE 19947. All payments sent by mail must be postmarked by Sept. 30 to avoid the 1.5 percent penalty, per month, on unpaid balances.

IN PERSON OR BY TELEPHONE

The County’s tax office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The office is located on the second floor, Room 252, of the County Administrative Offices building, 2 The Circle, in Georgetown. For more information, call (302) 855-7760.

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