INDIANAPOLIS | The state approved Porter County property tax rates Wednesday, setting the stage for final 2008 tax bills to hit mailboxes early next month.

"We are on a schedule that we expect to get tax bills out of here the first week in December," Porter County Auditor Jim Kopp said. "Are we going to hit (that target)? That's the million-dollar question. We should be very close to on schedule."

On schedule, Kopp said, means bills would be mailed about Dec. 5, and payment would be due Dec. 22 -- in time for homeowners to deduct property taxes on income tax returns.

However, taxpayers in Beverly Shores, Pine Township and the Town of Pines -- areas served by Michigan City schools -- are at the mercy of LaPorte County officials. Kopp said taxpayers in those areas should not expect to receive final 2008 tax bills until early next year.

Indiana adopted a new real estate appraisal system last year. The overhaul has led to continued delays in preparing tax bills and prompted finger-pointing between state and local officials.

"I think there's more than enough blame to point at everybody," Kopp said of the delays. "Nobody has clean hands."

In a typical year, bills go out in April, with installment payments due in May and November. This year, Porter County property owners in June received provisional bills that estimated the first half of their annual tax liability.

Porter County hired consultants to help work through the delays and installed a new computer system. Kopp said the goal is to have 2009 bills figured out by next June.