Tax club offers payment plan – Monthly option helpful

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Although the Houlton Tax Club started accepting applications in December, Lauren Asselin, the town’s tax collector, says it’s still not too late to join. Asselin says currently, there are 175 property owners and businesses who use the tax club to spread out payments over 12 months instead of paying their tax bill in one lump sum in October when payments are due to the town office.
TAX PLAN — When Mary Mitchell stopped into the Houlton Town Office last week with her coupon booklet to make a monthly payment on her annual tax bill, she told Tax Collector Lauren Asselin: “I’m glad to be ahead of the game.”
    If a property owner does not have an escrow account or a mortgage, says Asselin, “it’s a way to budget expenses and pay your tax bill the same way you pay your electric bill and other monthly bills.” And, even though taxes are due in October, there is no interest charged after October 15th as long as payments are made before the end of each month.
    Taxpayers receive a coupon booklet with tear–off slips they can mail or bring into the town office to make payments at any time during the month. Asselin says “taxpayers are more than welcome to join at any time” as long as they catch up, based on a 12-month plan. So, for example, if someone joins in February, he or she will have to pay the bill for January and February to be current.
    “The benefit to the town is that it increases the town’s cash flow and reduces the amount of interest on borrowed money for operating expenses that would have to be passed on to the taxpayers,” says Asselin of the plan. And, she adds, some people pay ahead. For example, she says, some snowbirds who travel to warmer climates during winter choose to pay four months at once to cover their payments while out of town.