Tax Coordinator George Hawkins reports Halifax County's successful 2024-25 property tax collections

Halifax County's tax collection efforts have shown remarkable improvement, as reported by Tax Coordinator and Collector Ms. George Hawkins during the Halifax County Commissioners' regular meeting on July 7, 2025. Hawkins presented the fiscal year 2024-25 property tax settlement report, highlighting a significant decrease in unpaid taxes, which dropped by over $1.4 million since February.

The report revealed that the county's unpaid real property taxes now stand at nearly $458,000, while total unpaid taxes and fees across all districts have decreased by $3 million, bringing the total to just over $1 million. Hawkins attributed this success to the diligent efforts of her staff and emphasized the importance of accurate record-keeping and customer service in improving collection rates.

In addition to the positive news, Hawkins addressed the issue of insolvent personal property taxes, which remain uncollected as of June 30. The total for these taxes is reported at $25,560 for the county levy and $48,445 across all districts. Hawkins noted that some of these debts stem from businesses under bankruptcy protection or those that have relocated out of state.

Hawkins also requested permission to write off uncollectible business personal property taxes totaling $8,507.20, due to federal bankruptcy court orders that rendered the assets uncollectible.

The meeting underscored the county's impressive collection rate of 98.59% for the current year's taxes, a testament to the hard work of the tax collection team. Hawkins expressed gratitude for the support from the county management and the board, which has facilitated improved taxpayer interactions through better office accessibility.

Looking ahead, Hawkins emphasized the need for continued taxpayer education to prevent delinquencies and improve future collection efforts. The board is expected to approve the annual settlement and the order to collect taxes for the upcoming fiscal year, reinforcing the county's commitment to effective tax administration and community service.