It’s a costly trend.

Unpaid Onslow County property taxes have risen for the third, consecutive year.

Uncollected county property taxes in early March the last three years hovered above $3 million. This year, delinquencies surpassed $4 million.

Economic factors, the 2014 Onslow County revaluation, and city and county tax hikes in 2014, could be driving up delinquencies, Onslow County Tax Administrator Harry Smith told The Daily News.

Tax bills are mailed each July. Taxes are due Sept. 1. Late payments become delinquent Jan. 6 each year, Smith said.

“There’s a four-month window,” Smith said.

Then, tax notices are sent by mail. This year, 15,083 notices were delivered, Smith said.

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