The payment of tax bills shall be made to the City Treasurer and shall be subject to the discounts and penalties listed below and the collection remedies provided by law:
(A) A discount in an amount determined by yearly ordinance of the face amount of the bill may be allowed if the tax is paid on or before December 31 of the tax year;
(B) The face amount of the bill shall be payable during January of the tax year;
(C) In the event any owner fails to pay the taxes assessed against him or her prior to February 1 of the tax year, there is levied as a penalty an amount equal to 10% of the tax payable plus interest from February 1 of the tax year until paid at the rate of 1.5% per month or part thereof, compounded monthly, or $10 if the penalty and interest is less than that amount; and
(D) All delinquent tax collection expenses incurred by the city, including lien filing and release fees, attorney’s fees of not less than 25%, and cost of initiating legal action, shall be deemed a penalty in addition to that specified in division (C) above and shall be encompassed within the city’s lien.
(2008 Code, § 3.16.030)