(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County homeowners are being advised to go ahead and pay their property tax bills before receiving corrected bills.

A mistake by the La Porte County Auditor’s Office related to the homestead deduction was made in the bills that recently were sent to residents.

The recommendation to make payment before the May 10 deadline was made after several meetings with state officials over the past several days, said La Porte County Treasurer Joie Winski.

Winski said one of yesterday's meetings was attended by a collaborative of local officials from the county, municipal, and township governments.

Corrected tax bills will be going out sometime in the next several weeks. Still, payment should be made now, if possible, to avoid causing any delays in when local governments and schools receive their operating dollars.

Winski believes most homeowners paying before the May 10 deadline will have a refund coming once the incorrect figures are recalculated and placed on the correct bills.

“This is an evolving situation, and we will continue to issue statements as more information is available,” Winski said.