(WSBT) It's been a long time coming, but property tax bills are finally going out to people in six townships along the western edge of St. Joseph County. Those bills were delayed, because LaPorte County hadn't set its tax rates yet and some school corporations cross county lines.

Most people in St. Joseph County have already paid their tax bills, but not those who live in places such as New Carlisle, North Liberty and Walkerton.

“They are receiving their bills late, and what we have attempted to do is to provide them with additional times to be able to make their additional payments, so we've extended their due date,” said Sean Coleman, the St. Joseph County Treasurer.

People in Liberty Township, North Liberty, Lincoln Township, Walkerton, Olive Township and New Carlisle will now have until November 21 to pay their bills.

The due date for the rest of the county is still November 13.

“We just didn't think it was fair to provide them with any less time than that,” Coleman said. “The state statute provides that you can allow as little as 15 days for the payment of taxes. However, that has not been our custom in St. Joseph County.”

The headache comes in because of a state statute that changed the way penalties are accessed for delinquent bills. Most of the county will have to be on one payment schedule, while the western townships will on be another.

“We have a series of dates that we have to pay attention to in the processing of payments,” Coleman said. “It's going to be a significant amount of additional work for our employees and the auditor's office employees. We think we have a handle on that.”

Despite the hassles, county officials are just glad money will finally be coming in to pay their bills. Many cities, towns and school corporations have had to borrow money to keep operations going smoothly.

People in those six townships will still have 45 days from the time they receive their bills to appeal. LaPorte County taxpayers have still not received their bills.