Fewer people paid their Hall County property taxes on time this year than in 2008.

About 73 percent of property tax bills were paid by the Dec. 1 due date, Hall County Tax Commissioner Keith Echols said.

"We still got probably 200 (mail) payments that haven’t been posted. It might increase it to 75 percent," Echols said. "There was originally 86,125 bills sent out and so far we’ve got 63,301 posted."

Echols said a higher percentage of bills were collected by the Dec. 1 due date last year.

"It was more than what it is now," Echols said, estimating on-time collections at 78 percent in 2008. "It’s a little lower than I thought it (would be)."

Echols said, like last year, the economy is probably the culprit behind the numbers.

"A lot of people’s lost their jobs. They just can’t afford to pay their taxes on time," Echols said.

A number of people made partial payments on their bills this year.

"I told them to go ahead and start making payments, that way the interest won’t be as much," Echols said.

Echols said his office is preparing delinquent tax notices, which will be mailed out around Dec. 15.

"As of now, the 1 percent interest is being charged on the tax bills that haven’t been paid," Echols said.

A 1 percent interest rate will be charged each month after the Dec. 1 deadline until the bill is paid.

If it still hasn’t been paid by March 1, 10 percent interest is charged and the county will begin collections proceedings.