I pay both halves on-line the day I get them in the mail; done.
Why the "You poor California suckers" choice? At .61% of home value, it's the lowest of the three west coast states. I'd have put "You poor New Jersey suckers" (1.74% of home value) - or a few other states that are even higher.
In Depth: Who Pays America's Highest Property Taxes? - 1. Passaic County, N.J. - Forbes.com
Who Pays America's Highest Property Taxes? - Forbes.com
Property tax levels by state; buying and owning a home - MSN Money