A motion was made during a Nov. 7 special called meeting of the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors to allow 30 additional days to pay real estate and personal property taxes without penalty after the bills are mailed.

The due date for tax bills in Charlotte County will not change, however, individuals will be given an additional 30 days after the bills are mailed to pay.

“What will that date be?” asked Aspen/Phenix Supervisor Donna Fore.

According to Charlotte County’s Treasurer Patricia Berkeley, she is looking at Dec. 20 being the final deadline for real estate and personal property taxes.

“We’re on target right now to finish with the prepay process (last) Friday, I plan to be here (last) Saturday to run the statement file and hopefully … upload it to the printers on Saturday …”

Berkeley said in light of the process, she would still need to approve the proofs with the printers, who would need three or four additional business days to mail the bills.

“I’m thinking they will mail it by the end of next week, hopefully,” Berkeley said at the Nov. 7 special called meeting.

She said the verbiage will be on the statement outlining the last day to pay before receiving a penalty.

“If for any reason you have to extend it by a couple of days,that won’t require us to meet again. We’re going to give her enough lead way … “ said Fore.

Berkeley said by law, the individuals are required to have at least 14 days to pay. “We feel like it’s in the best interest of the citizens to at least give them 30 days. It’s not their fault that we’re in the situation we’re still in carrying over from last year being late.”

She said while the due date will still say Dec. 5, a verbiage would be clearly added to the bills to make individuals aware they can pay later without being penalized.