Kodiak Island Borough tax payments due Thursday; mailed payments should be hand canceled

Kodiak Island Borough property owners who are paying their tax bill in full, or who missed the Aug. 17 first-half deadline, must pay by Thursday, Oct. 15, the borough said Friday. Anyone mailing a payment should have the envelope "hand canceled" at the post office, the borough said, because postal rules have changed.

Borough Manager Aimee Williams explained the change to the Assembly on Oct. 1. A postmark, she said, "now will show the date where item is first processed at an automated regional facility rather than the day it was dropped off." Hand canceling guarantees a timely date stamp, according to the borough.

Unpaid balances after Oct. 15 face a 10% penalty plus 1% interest each month, under borough rules. Statements of $50 or less are due in full by Thursday. Larger bills can be split into two payments, and owners who paid the first half on time have until Nov. 15 for the second.

Payments can be made online or in person at the borough cashier's office.