WINTON – One month removed from the deadline to pay real property taxes in Hertford County, there remains in excess of $1.5 million on the books.

The Hertford County Board of Commissioners were made aware of that fact here Monday morning during their regularly scheduled meeting.

Hertford County Tax Collector Gay Sumner told the commissioners that as of Monday morning, a total of $1,517,827.28 was listed as unpaid real property taxes for the 2010 tax year. That dollar amount represents 3,376 records shown as unpaid on the Hertford County tax scrolls.

She added that the difference from last year to this year in unpaid taxes is $28,000.

“As all of you are aware, the economy has a lot to do with unpaid taxes. We have to work hard to get these taxes in. I would love to stand up here next year and tell you that figure is less than one million dollars,” Sumner said.

She continued, “I am required by state general statute to report this information to you (commissioners) and additionally to seek your permission to advertise these tax liens,” Sumner told the board.

Sumner also asked the board to approve the dates of after March 1, 2011 up until June 30, 2011, as required by general state statute, as the time for advertisement.

Sumner recommended the publishing of the tax liens in the Tuesday, April 19 edition of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald. She said that publication date is about the same time frame as previous years.

Sumner said to avoid the public listing, those owning Hertford County real property taxes have until 5 p.m. on Monday, March 21 to make payment in order to have their name removed from the newspaper listing.

The commissioners approved Sumner’s request without objection.