CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Bradley County property owners soon may have more options for making their property tax payments.
Trustee Mike Smith told county commissioners he has been working with the Tennessee Comptroller's Office to allow monthly payments any time during the year.
Commissioners in 2007 voted to allow taxpayers to make partial payments in tax season, October through February.
"That plan has worked out great,'' Mr. Smith said.
The new recommendation still is being tweaked, he said. The proposed 12-month plan goes from Oct. 1 through September of the following year. It could begin this October if the commission approves.
"We will take payments brought into the office, or we will set up with a bank to take automatic drafts from people's checking accounts each month," Mr. Smith said. "It will work the same way as escrow accounts.
"What does that do for Bradley County?" he asked. "Everyone knows from the end of October through December, we have a cash-flow squeeze. We've got plenty of money as a county, but we have a cash-flow squeeze.
"People can still make four payments on current taxes if they choose not to go into a 12-month payment plan," Mr. Smith said. Or they can make a lump-sum payment.
For taxpayers, he said, it relieves them from writing that one big check.
The service would be included in bid packages this summer when the trustee's office seeks bids for banking services, he said.
Commissioner Michael Plumley suggested the four-month plan adopted in 2007.
He said he was inspired by an elderly lady's question during a neighborhood campaign.
"She and her husband were retired," Mr. Plumley said, "so it was a little difficult for them to make that yearly payment."