PARIS — Town Manager Amy Bernard said the town could improve its cash flow and make paying property taxes easier for residents by collecting taxes quarterly instead of twice a year.

“I was trying to think outside of the box,” Bernard told selectmen Tuesday. She said she heard the idea from the Bridgton town manager, who told her they’ve been collecting quarterly tax payments for years. “It helps with their cash flow and it makes complete sense,” Bernard told the board.

She said it would be easier for the town to have cash on hand, and easier for residents to save up for smaller payments, pointing out that a resident owing $2,000 per year in property taxes would pay $500 four times, rather than two $1,000 payments. “It’s a little easier to save for that,” Bernard said.

Currently, she said, taxes are due on May 1 and Nov. 1. She proposed the town collect taxes in August, November, February and May on the 15th of the month.

She said it would save the town from having to take out a short-term tax anticipation loan next year, which would mean interest payments. “Without doing something,” Bernard said, “we’ll have to get a tax anticipation note next year.”

Bernard said she wanted to know if the board was interested before researching it in depth.

“I think it sounds like a really good idea,” Vice Chairman Robert Kirchherr said. He said he’d have to hear the cons first, but observed that it would move payments away from holiday seasons and ease the burden for taxpayers. “I need to think about it some more,” he said.

Bernard said the main drawback would be residents who aren’t informed of the change and missing payments. She said the town would have to get the word out to everyone, and said the town should provide a grace period of a few weeks to a month for the first payment to give people time to pay.

The town would also have to commit taxes a little earlier, in July rather than August, so that the first tax bill would be ready for Aug. 15.

The board voted unanimously to authorize Bernard to research the matter further.

The board is set to discuss the issue at the Feb. 25 meeting.

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