Saturday, February 28 is the deadline to pay New Orleans property taxes before penalties kick in. City officials say lagging property tax collections are part of the reason why the city's budget is in a mess.
"We are way behind on property tax collection," Chief Administrative Officer Joe Giarrusso told WWL's Tommy Tucker, adding that 70 percent of New Orleans property owners have not yet paid their property taxes. "We really need people to pay their property taxes.
Giarrusso told WWL's Tommy Tucker that the easiest way for New Orleans residents to help the city climb out of its budget hole is to pay their taxes by the deadline.
"We're in a big ditch, and how you pull the car from the ditch is what's occupying all our time," Giarrusso said. "To make sure we have good cash flow and to make sure things are moving for Orleans Parish residents or people who own property in Orleans, it's really time to pay your property taxes so we can have that money in by the end of the month."
Property owners who don't pay their taxes before the deadline will face monthly penalties.