Pinched already by the economic downturn, Brevard County homeowners got fiscally frightening tricks on Halloween: property tax bills.

Exactly 333,184 annual notices for residential and commercial property tax and tangible personal property tax went into the mail on Friday, Tax Collector Rod Northcutt said.

"Some people got them Saturday, and some of them are already coming in and paying them. Sometimes, they get them in the morning in their mailbox, and they come in during the afternoon and pay," he said.

Total tax roll billed was $739 million, down from $752 million last year, according to Northcutt's office.

Despite the slumping
economy, Northcutt said he does not expect tax-payment trends to deviate from the norm.

November and December are typically the department's top- and second-ranked collection months. Homeowners who pay their bills during November receive a 4 percent discount, while those who pay during December save 3 percent.

Moreover, mortgage companies are required by Florida law to remit escrow account payments by the end of November, Northcutt said.

"We think it'll be about normal, as far as people taking advantage of the 4 percent (during November)," Northcutt said.

Those who fail to pay by the March 31 tax deadline face potential inclusion in the department's online tax certificate auction, which takes place on or before June 1.

Contact Neale at 242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com.

Florida Today