Title
Receive a report and response to Board Referral No. 2023.02 seeking the implementation of the Easy Smart Pay Program that would allow Monterey County residents and businesses the option of making monthly installment payments for real property taxes.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Receive a response from the Treasurer-Tax Collector to Board Referral No. 2023.02 on the current status and anticipated implementation date of the Easy Smart Pay Program.
SUMMARY:
The above-referenced board referral requested the Treasurer-Tax Collector ("TTC") to implement the Easy Smart Pay ("ESP") program allowing real property taxpayers to make monthly tax payments on their property. At this time, the TTC lacks sufficient staff to implement the ESP program due to position vacancies and leaves of absence. At the soonest, the TTC may possess sufficient staff to implement the program in the Fall of this year. In the interim, the TTC will enter into negotiations with the ESP program to address the additional considerations described below.
PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS:
Easy Smart Pay program
ESP is a private company bill assignment service that has partnered with the California State Association of Counties Finance Corporation ("CSAC-FC") that was created to, in part, provide taxpayers the ability to pay real property taxes in monthly installments rather than in the traditional two installments in December and April. State law allows taxpayers the ability to pay their annual real property taxes in two monthly installments. Many taxpayers who have mortgages on their property use impound accounts to add payments for taxes and insurance to their monthly mortgage obligation. When the tax due date arrives, the mortgage companies utilize the County Reciprocal Tax Accounting ("CORTAC") process to electronically submit mass tax payments to the TTC. Other taxpayers who may not have monthly mortgages use interest earning savings or "Holid...
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