CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / SAN DIEGO COUNTY

The county treasurer-tax collector Tuesday began mailing out 71,478 delinquent notices to property owners who are behind on their property taxes.

Together, the owners owe more than $249 million in back taxes, said Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister.

“Times are tough, [property] values have fallen and projects have stalled,” he said. “But our job is to collect the taxes. . . . We owe that to our public and to the future of San Diego County.”

Delinquent owners have until June 30 or they will be slapped with an additional penalty of 1.5% per month. Property owners requesting a reassessment still must pay the amount on their bills; if they are granted a lower assessment, they will get a refund, McAllister said.

-- Tony Perry