City looks at its delinquent tax properties

Jacksboro officials are in contact with their delinquent tax firm in an attempt to get more money.

When the council switched tax firms from Linebarger to Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins, and Mott in January, the prior firm filed about 50-70 suits on the city’s homes with delinquent tax owed. Because of the new suits filed, the new firm was unable to file until July 1.

Linebarger did nothing to retrieve the money and the new firm is ready to get some monies, City Manager Mike Smith explained to the council during their July 13 regular meeting. Those monies are in the vicinity of $341,423, with Smith saying the firm will likely never collect that much money.

The firm had asked the city to highlight ones they would like to pursue. Some of the homes have been delinquent a short time and other for many years.

Smith said city staff will sit down as a group and decide how they want to pursue. Alderman Craig Fenter asked how the staff was going to make sure they were being fair throughout the process.

City Attorney David Spiller said the new firm has done a great job with the other local entities it has worked with including the county and Jacksboro Independent School District and is sure the firm will represent the city well.

Smith said pursuing long overdue taxes with some properties worth in the neighborhood of $10,000 to $15,000 would be the way to go.

The council also received its initial look at the 2021 budget looking at general fund revenue. Since the Coronavirus hit in March, the city has been even more frugal than normal with its spending, according to Smith.

Because of drops in sales tax, which are expected to end the year about $261,000 lower than expected, court fines, franchise fees, the city is being careful with its revenue expectations this year.

A 2021 draft budget is expected to be available at the council’s next meeting July 27. The city budget takes effect Oct. 1.