Georgetown Town Hall (Photo: WBOC)GEORGETOWN, Del. - Town leaders in Georgetown will offer past due taxpayers a break to settle their accounts.
The town will waive interest and penalties on delinquent accounts if the balance is paid in full by August 31.
Roughly 700 accounts have outstanding balances, totaling about $176,000 in unpaid property taxes and $70,000 in penalties. The oldest unpaid account dates back to 2003.
"We really would like to focus on affording those folks that, for whatever reason just haven't been able to make those tax payments, to come in and get that taken care of," said town manager Gene Dvornick.
The outstanding balances range from $17.28 to $20,447.
"I think it's a great idea," said Cheryl Teano, a restaurant manager in town. "With the economy now, if stores or establishments can get a break on penalties and interest, they may go ahead and pay their taxes."
Still, some doubted a tax amnesty program would work.
"They're not going to pay at all because they haven't paid in years," said Grace Andrews, who works in town.
The town council unanimously supported the program at its June 27, 2012 meeting. The town offered a similar program in 2009, netting about $26,000 in unpaid taxes. Georgetown also posts a list of delinquent accounts on the town website.
