Voluntary tax

This story coming out in the Indianapolis Star did not come as a suprise to me. I also look for Marion county to do the same at a later date.

Danville » Hendricks County officials have decided to mail out voluntary tax statements in May, as the county may not be sending out official tax bills until late summer.
Hendricks is one of a handful of counties that are up to nine months late in sending information to the state needed to set rates. Tax bills traditionally go out near the first of May; the voluntary tax stubs will be sent out instead around May 15, said Hendricks County Auditor Cinda Kattau.

The voluntary tax stubs will list 80 percent of last spring's tax bills, which residents can choose to pay. There is no due date, and no penalty for not paying, she said.
"Mortgage companies will get these just like a regular tax bill, and we expect they probably will pay," she said. "Those companies can only hold money in escrow so long before they have to mail it back, and many would rather use the money for what it was intended to pay for: taxes."

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080430/LOCAL0504/804300478

Since I am losing money on some of my investments right now, I would rather pay this now then wait still they send me a big bill all at once. How many years will this go on? I heard that this year statements may not be sent out until November.