To: Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Michelle Bushnell
Agenda Section: Initiated by Board Member
SUBJECT:
title
Hear the Presentation and Consider Implementation of the EasySmartPay Service (Supervisor Michelle Bushnell)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Hear the presentation from the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Financial Corporation; and
2. Authorize the Chair to sign the attached Resolution
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
N/A
DISCUSSION:
California Revenue and Taxation Code authorizes counties to collect property taxes in two installments per year (R&T 2700-2708). Many property owners have the option to pay their property taxes in monthly installments through escrow services provided by banks owning mortgages; however, property owners who own their property outright lack a similar option. For some, biannual tax bills instead of monthly tax bills can be a financial hardship or considerable inconvenience. Some property tax owners within the county have voiced frustration to District Supervisors and the Tax Collection staff; however, the elected Tax Collector lacks the authority to provide monthly billing under current law.
SmartEasyPay Inc. is a privately held corporation founded in partnership with the California State Association of Counties Financing Corporation (CSAC-FC) with the aim to fill service gaps between government agencies and the public regarding taxes. As to the situation described above, the EasySmartPay service allows individual property owners to voluntarily assign (and voluntarily un-assign) their property tax bills to EasySmartPay, which will in turn bill them for that amount spread over monthly installments for a fee.
There is no financial impact to the county. Taxpayers voluntarily enroll in EasySmartPay and when taxes are due, EasySmartPay will remit the total taxes due for enrolled property owners, to the county, in the same manner used by other banks and...
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