“This is one way we feel we can assist those of our taxpayers who may be having difficulty paying their property taxes,” Wright said.

A request for approval was submitted to the Tennessee State Comptroller’s office, she explained, and it was approved Aug. 3.

The measure goes into effect today as 39,904 city property tax notices are being released. From those, Murfreesboro expects to collect $33,987,787.

Tax notices released today are due Dec. 31 and considered delinquent on Jan. 1, 2011, she explained. Once delinquencies are turned over to Chancery Court in March, properties with remaining balances are subject to lien. 

For those wishing to take advantage of the partial payment plan, rules set forth by enabling council legislation include:

1. Partial payments of property taxes may not be made more than twice in one calendar month.
2. Partial payments of property taxes may not be made in installments of less than $50, except for final payment.
3. Any voucher issued pursuant to a state tax relief program shall be used as all or a portion of the final payment.
4. Partial payments made after the delinquency date of Dec. 31 will first be applied to outstanding penalties and interest and then to the remaining tax balance.
5. Any payments made on or after the first day of any month after the delinquency date of Dec. 31 will decrease the penalty and interest for the following month only.
6. The City Recorder or designee shall have the ability to accept payments more frequently or in smaller amounts than specified herein if the City Recorder  determines that unusual circumstances provide good cause for doing so.
7. The City Recorder will accept partial payments made by cash, check or money order but not by electronic funds transfer.

For more information, call City Recorder Melissa Wright in the city’s Tax Department at 893-5210.