ORANGE COUNTY IN BANKRUPTCY : PROPERTY TAX PROCESS
Here are the steps that a property tax payment goes through before ending up as, among other things, a county employee’s paycheck.
* County tax collector staff opens payment envelopes.
* Staff member encodes dollar amount on check, records payment on magnetic tape.
* Tax collector can research property questions as soon as one day after payment is recorded.
* Coded checks are deposited in county’s undesignated funds bank account.
* Checks are transferred to second bank account which covers payroll and expenses.
PROPERTY TAXING TREND
The amount of property taxes collected in Orange County has declined recently.
1994-95*: 97.7
* estimated
CREDIT COUNSELING
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County, a nonprofit organization, is offering emergency planning for anyone whose personal finances are likely to be hurt by the county’s bankruptcy filing. For more information, call (714) 544-8880.
Source: Orange County auditor’s office
Researched by JEFF BEAN and APRIL JACKSON / Los Angeles Times
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