THE COUNTDOWN IS ON FOR 1998 TAX COLLECTIONS

The countdown is on not only toward the new year but also toward the deadline for paying Cape Girardeau County taxes.

Today is the last day to pay both real estate and personal property taxes without a late fee.

Tax bills may be paid in person at the county collector's office in Jackson or Cape Girardeau. The offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Bills also will be considered paid on time if postmarked Dec. 31.

"We have a tremendous amount of mail this year," said Harold Kuehle, county collector. "We have must been inundated with mail. It's the heaviest I've ever seen it."

In the past several years, about 60 percent of tax payments are made by mail. The other 40 percent are paid in person.

"Monday morning when we opened we had a long line," Kuehle said. Taxpayers have been lining up each day since.

"This happens every year," he said. "The day after Thanksgiving and the day after Christmas we are very busy."

Adding to the last-minute workload, several escrow companies made payments later than usual.

"It's been really interesting for my last year," Kuehle said.

Kuehle, who has been county collector for 32 years, retires in February. Diane Diebold, elected in November, takes over March 1.

Kuehle has been making a list of suggestions for Diebold to consider.

"Over the past couple years I haven't made some changes, knowing that I would be retiring," Kuehle said. "I will be sitting down with her to talk about some of those changes."

For example, Kuehle will likely recommend hiring another person to process mail tax payments to speed up the process.

"I expect that she will make some changes also," he said. "That's what a new person does. She will have her own way of doing things."

In the meantime, tax payments for this year are due. Failure to receive a bill doesn't relieve you of the responsibility for paying taxes.

Anyone owning real estate at the end of the year owes a tax on that property.

Personal tax is due if you owned a vehicle on Jan. 1. Each vehicle owned should be listed on the tax bill, along with other taxable personal property like boats and trailers.

If you plan to mail the payment today, make sure it postmarked Dec. 31.

"Don't mail it on your way home from a New Year's Eve party," Kuehle said.