Nearly all of the $14.7 million in Escambia County property taxes have been paid, said county tax collector Tim Pettis.

“We are on track with collections this year,” Pettis said. Currently, 97 percent – or $14.4 million – has been remitted by county property owners.

For that remaining 3 percent, a few weeks remain before the next series of certified mail leaves the office, Pettis said. Those who have not paid their property taxes will now face additional charges and fees since the Dec. 31 payment deadline has passed. In addition to the original property tax amount, owners will now be assessed an additional 3 percent of the amount as well as a $5 collector’s fee.

Pettis said new charges added in March – an additional 1 percent added and another $10 in collector’s fees to the amount originally owed on the tax bill. There will also be a certified mail fee added to the bill since those March notices will be sent by certified mail, he said.

Some 1,500 pieces of certified mail were sent in February, Pettis said.

“We will advertise the names and amounts of those unpaid property taxes in April which will add more fees to the original amount,” Pettis said.

State law requires a 30-day period between the published list and the annual property tax sale.

“If the bill goes unpaid at that point, the property will be put up for sale in May,” he said.

Pettis said property with unpaid taxes will be sold at public auction on the front steps of the Escambia County Courthouse in May.

For those property owners wishing to pay their bills, the Escambia County Tax Collector’s office is located on the main floor of the Escambia County Courthouse on Belleville Avenue.

The office can be reached at 867-0304 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.