TEXARKANA, Ark. - Miller County residents have just less than two weeks to pay the property taxes without penalty. Traffic to the courthouse reflects the looming deadline.
Miller County Tax Collector Laura Bates said her office, which is presently and temporarily being housed on the first floor of the Landmark building at 210 North State Line Ave., is getting busier by the day.
She said about 35% of the property taxes due have yet to be collected. Oct. 15 is the deadline .
So far, $18 million has been collected with about $10 million still outstanding, Bates said.
She also said that since about Sept. 27, her office has received more then 700 tax payments, and she anticipates that number to increase as Oct. 15 approaches.
With limited parking and lobby space, Bates is encouraging taxpayers not to wait until the last minute to avoid a long waiting period in line.
"Since the pandemic began I've been working very hard on alternate ways for taxpayers to do business without having to physically come into the office," she said.
Residents can pay their property taxes and get receipts at the office website: millercollector.com.
At this website "they will also be able to notify us of a change of address, view county ordinances pertaining to voluntary taxes and see monthly collection reports," she said. "There is also a link to assess their personal property online.
Bates then said that for added convenience, she is having a drop box installed at the Miller County Sheriff's Office (located on East Street) starting Monday.
The box will enable residents to pull into the Sheriff's Department parking lot and drive right up it and deposit payments without needing to exit their vehicles.
"I'm asking that no money be left in the box," Bates said. "Citizens will need to leave checks, cashier's checks or money orders only. I'm also asking them to include identifying information with their payments, so we are able to apply it to the correct account."
For residents who wish to mail their property tax payments, Bates said they can so so at 400 Laurel St., Suite 111, Texarkana, AR 71854. Payments should be postmarked by Oct. 15.