Kingfisher County’s ad valorem tax collections soared during the last week of December and are now more than half collected, County Treasurer Robin Rother reports.

Tax collections were at $27,118,143.50 (58.84% collected by Friday) up from $8,263,562 collected as of Dec. 9.

State law allows property owners who elect to do so to pay one-half of their tax bill by Dec. 31 and delay the second half payment before April 1 without penalty.

The majority of ad valorem tax goes for the support of local schools.

The influx of money allows the schools to pay bills on time without issuing interest-bearing warrants.

Delinquent tax bills draw a penalty of 1.5% per month.