Some Davidson taxpayers have been wondering lately about the whereabouts of their 2011 property tax bills. Town officials on Friday blamed the county for a delay, but said most bills should be mailed by mid-November.

Town manager Leamon Brice said the county is running behind this year because it is “using some new software.” Davidson also is adding a new solid-waste fee to the bills this year, and that may also have slowed things down, he said.

A McConnell neighborhood resident who contacted DavidsonNews.net to express concern over the delay said county officials told her Davidson’s new trash fee was the reason for the delay.

But Mr. Brice said, “Some of the software changes might be because of the fee, but we gave them the solid waste numbers months ago.”

Tax bills are due Jan. 5 and interest begins on Jan. 6.

In a statement Friday, Town Finance Director Eric Hardy said the county had anticipated sending bills by the end of October. But 800 bills remain, and those should be ready for distribution by mid-November, he said.

“The assessor’s staff has billing scheduled for the weekend of Nov 13-14, with bills going in the mail no sooner than Nov 15. Property owners who have not received their bills by Thanksgiving are encouraged to contact the county by dialing 311,” he said in Friday’s statement.

This year’s bills will contain an added solid-waste fee of $201 for most property owners in single-family homes to cover the cost of trash and recycling collection. Property owners in condos and some developments will pay between $63 and $125.

RELATED COVERAGE

July 14, 2010, “Board adopts new local road plan, trash fees” – this report includes a table listing the new fees.