Property tax bills mailed

The office of the Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector announced that the secured property tax bills for the 2007-08 tax year were mailed early in October.

Residents who have not received their property tax bill should either phone the office at (805) 6543744 or email a request for a duplicate bill to HelpingHand@ventura.org.

More than 242,000 tax bills were issued, representing a total secured tax roll of more than $1.15 billion, an all-time high. Local taxpayers have already paid more than $9 million in property taxes on the 1997-2008 secured roll, also an all-time high for early payments.

The first installment of the secured property tax must be paid by Dec. 10. Office hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. weekdays.

A payment drop box will be open until midnight on Dec. 10. The drop box is near the pay phone at the east entrance of the Hall of Administration, County Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura.

Property taxes may be paid over the Internet at the website www.venturapropertytax.org.

Payments postmarked on or before Dec. 10 are considered on time. State law requires that a 10 percent penalty fee be collected for all late payments.