A little more than $200,000 is remaining in unpaid property taxes, Escambia County Tax Collector Tim Pettis said Tuesday.

In October, $16.5 million was billed in annual ad valorem, or property, taxes. As of Tuesday, all but $208,000 had been collected, Pettis said.

“That figure represents approximately 547 parcels in Escambia County,” Pettis said. “We encourage anyone who has not paid to come in as quickly as possible to avoid the May tax sale.”

Since the Dec. 31 payment deadline has passed, additional fees and penalties have been added to the original property tax amount, Pettis said. Owners have been assessed an additional 3 percent of the amount as well as a $5 collector’s fee.

Pettis said additional charges were added in March – an additional 1 percent added and another $10 in collector’s fees to the amount originally owed on the tax bill. “Beginning today, we will advertise the names and amounts of those unpaid property taxes 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.

Pettis said property with unpaid taxes will be sold at public auction on the front steps of the Escambia County Courthouse on May 11.

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.