Thursday (Dec. 31) is the deadline to pay 2020 ad valorem taxes, County Treasurer Robin Rother reminds.

Tax not paid by then is subject to a 1.5 percent penalty per month until paid.

However, those who elect to do so may pay one-half of their total bill and delay the second half payment, without penalty, until March 31.

Rother announced that $7,542,445 (18.228 percent) of the total tax due ($41,378,592) had been paid as of Monday, Dec. 21, leaving a balance of $33,836,147 still due.

The largest portion of ad valorem tax (83.2 percent) goes to support schools.

The county general fund, which goes to support the county courthouse, receives 13.8 %, the county health department 2.8 % and emergency medical districts 0.2 %.