A. Each board of county commissioners, by resolution, may as an option to the taxpayer provide for prepayment of property tax due if the tax due is one hundred dollars ($100) or more.

B. The resolution shall provide for a prepayment of the first installment due pursuant to Section 7-38-38 NMSA 1978 by July 10 in an amount equal to twenty-five percent of the prior year's property tax bill. The amount of prepayment shall be credited against the first installment due.

C. The resolution shall further provide for a prepayment of the second installment due pursuant to Section 7-38-38 NMSA 1978 by January 10 in an amount equal to fifty percent of the second installment due. The amount of the prepayment shall be credited against the second installment due.

D. The resolution shall also provide that persons who are responsible by contract for paying property taxes on behalf of the property owner shall make prepayments as provided in this section if the amount of property tax due for the prior property tax year was at least one hundred dollars ($100).

E. No penalty and interest shall be applied for failure to pay or for late payment of any optional prepayment of property taxes as authorized by this section. For persons required to make prepayments of property taxes under Subsection D of this section, the date of each prepayment installment shall be deemed to be the date the property tax is due for purposes of applying penalties and interest for failure to pay for late payment of any prepayment.

F. The county treasurer may distribute to the units of government, thirty days following receipt of the prepayment amounts collected, an amount equal to fifty percent of the amounts collected. Distribution shall be made in accordance with the law and regulations of the department of finance and administration.

G. The county shall make a concerted effort to apprise taxpayers of the option provided in this section by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or through other media coverage.

History: 1978 Comp., § 7-38-38.2, enacted by Laws 1987, ch. 166, § 3.