BAY MINETTE, Alabama — Credit card payments are above last year for Baldwin County property owners’ tax payments, but there has been an upsurge in payments in the last week as parcel owners try to avoid late payment fees, according to Teddy Faust, Baldwin County Revenue Commissioner.

“Beginning early last week, mail really began to come in and we suddenly found ourselves behind,” Faust said. “As a result, we have authorized overtime and added staff to help post payments.

“We ask for property owners’ patience this time of year because we can run up to three weeks behind on posting payments due to the heavy volume of mail.” Property owners have until Dec. 31 at 4:30 to make payments.

Mail-in payments should be postmarked no later than Dec. 31. “We are down overall from last year,” Faust said. “However, we have about four mail payment trays to be processed. Credit card payments are greater than last year at this point. Lots of folks state they don’t want to pay the 2.5 percent convenience fee.”

Faust said the 2011 tax payments were $49.4 million with 73,145 payments. Of that, 216 were paid by credit card totaling $100,183. The 2012 tax payment at latest numbers is $34.7 million, representing  59,227 payments. Three hundred ninety two were paid by credit card, totaling $164,340.