today for late payment

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

Jan. 1, 2001 10 PM

The Pike County Revenue Commission Office was one of the busiest places in the county on Friday.

Some Pike County property owners waited until the last minute to pay the taxes accessed to their property and kept a steady flow at the Revenue Commission counter.

But, those who waited until today will be penalized.

Interest on the amount due begins today since the Pike County Revenue Commission Office was closed yesterday for New Year’s Day. Interest is one percent per month, said

Revenue Commissioner Curtis Blair.

Bills were sent and the Pike County Revenue Commission Office began collecting the first of October.

Blair had estimated $4 million in ad valorem taxes would be collected for the year 2000 and, most of that, he said, came in early.

"Normally, we have a lot of people come in early," Blair said.

But, there are always those who wait until the last minute.

At the end of a busy Friday, Blair talked about his busiest time of the year.

"We’ve been busy," Blair said late Friday afternoon, surrounded by piles of papers.

For Blair, the busy time has been good.

"We’ve probably collected more than what we normally have at this time," Blair said. "We’re on schedule or above schedule."

Blair said late notices will be mailed out in the next two weeks, reminding those who have not paid that their taxes are past due.

Despite his earlier worries about moving during the tax collection season, Blair is pleased with how smoothly it has all gone.

"Everything has worked out really well out here," Blair said of the temporary courthouse at the former Wal-Mart building on U.S. 231.

Pike County Courthouse offices were forced to relocate the middle of November because of renovations at the courthouse.