In a year punctuated by concerns over rising property tax bills, people in central Indiana's two most populous counties have had to wait longer than some others for their expected bad news.

But the wait in Hamilton and Marion counties is coming to a close. Hamilton County intends to start mailing its tax bills on Monday. Marion County, which includes Indianapolis, hopes to send bills in early July, 6News' Norman Cox reported Tuesday.

Delays in processing assessments and rates prevented the bills from being mailed earlier.

Statewide, property tax bills have been expected to rise an average of 24 percent this year. Hamilton County Treasurer Kim Good said no average has yet been calculated for that county or any of its cities or townships.

"I can tell you that the assessment throughout Hamilton County has gone up 16 percent. The rates throughout Hamilton County went down 7 percent. So, it really depends if your house is old (or) if it's new," Good said. "Trending plays a very big part of what you're going to be paying."

Tom Creasser, Marion County's chief deputy treasurer, said he expects that county's bills to be mailed in early July with a due date of July 27.

Creasser said Marion County has no estimate of how high bills will rise there.

"The best answer is, 'We have no clue yet,'" Creasser said.

Treasurers: Rebates Might Not Come Until Next Year

Thanks to a bill that the Legislature passed this year, the state will give property tax rebates to payers -- an action that is expected to effectively lower the average 24 percent increase to about 9 percent.

Taxpayers must pay their bills in full and receive the rebates later. The rebates were supposed to be mailed in November, but county treasurers say that estimate is probably too soon, Cox reported.

The counties won't receive tax money from the state until November. They'll need to calculate who gets what kind of rebate after that, so people probably won't receive the rebates until January or February, county treasurers said.