UPDATE: May 6, 2015

Jefferson County Public Utility District (PUD) handed Jefferson County $18,000 last week from property owners who paid their county property taxes to the utility district by accident – online.

Some 15 property owners, who probably have paid their power bill online in the past, managed to send a total of $18,000 to the PUD when they intended to pay Jefferson County property taxes. The deadline was April 30.

“Some people erroneously think the PUD and county are one and the same,” said Stacie Prada, Jefferson County treasurer. “I find it extremely generous of the PUD to put the effort into tracking these payments in error, issuing a check to the treasurer's office along with identifying information, and contacting each customer to educate them on the error.”

PUD manager Jim Parker said the PUD started noticing large sums showing up online – up to $2,000 – and employees investigated and discovered the money was intended to be sent to the Jefferson County treasurer.

“People were going online thinking they were paying the treasurer and instead it was going to us,” Parker said.

Although Jefferson County is in the PUD's formal name, the PUD is a junior taxing district, separate from the county. The county does collect money on behalf of the PUD, but the PUD doesn't collect money for the county.

Parker suggested people who made the online error may not have viewed the agency's full name when scrolling on a drop-down menu to select a destination choice, which monthly could be Jefferson County Public Utility District, and twice a year, property taxes to just Jefferson County.

Also, the PUD and the county treasurer both use the same color of payment envelopes – green. However, Parker said the payment confusion has only been online; the PUD did not receive any paper payments intended for county property taxes.

(The first version of this story appeared April 30 on ptleader.com.)

ORIGINAL: April 30, 2015

Heads up taxpayers: If you want to pay your property taxes, don't click on the Jefferson County Public Utility District option online.

Some 15 property owners, who probably have paid their power bill online in the past, managed to send a total of $18,000 to the PUD in the last two weeks when they actually intended to pay Jefferson County property taxes.

The deadline to pay those taxes is today, Wednesday, April 30.

“Some people erroneously think the PUD and county are one and the same,” said Jefferson County Treasurer Stacie Prada. “I find it extremely generous of the PUD to put the effort into tracking these payments in error, issuing a check to the Treasurer's Office along with identifying information, and contacting each customer to educate them on the error.”

PUD Manager Jim Parker said the PUD started noticing large sums showing up online – up to $2,000 – and employees investigated and discovered the money was intended to be sent to the Jefferson County treasurer.

“People were going online thinking they were paying the treasurer and instead it was going to us,” Parker said.

Although Jefferson County is in the PUD's formal name, the PUD is a junior taxing district, separate from the county. The county does collect money on behalf of the PUD, but the PUD doesn't collect money for the county. Or hasn't, until now.

Parker suggested people who made the online error may not have viewed the agency's full name when scrolling on a drop-down menu to select a destination choice, which monthly could be Jefferson County Public Utility District, and twice a year, property taxes to Jefferson County.

PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS

As for county taxes, the first-half installment is due today, Thursday, April 30.

If you don't want to risk going online, mailed payments must be postmarked by April 30 to avoid penalty and interest charges.

Taxes may also be paid in person at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

There are five drop boxes in Jefferson County for payment by check:

• Drop box in rear parking lot of the courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St.

• Port Townsend Bank of America, 734 Water St.

• Port Hadlock Bank of America, 10 Oak Bay Road.

• Port Ludlow Sound Community Bank, 9500 Oak Bay Road.

• Quilcene U.S. Bank, 14890 Center Road.

Call the Treasurers Office at 360-385-9150 with any questions.