Randolph County Tax Assessor Hill reports 99 percent collection rate amid challenging year

The Randolph County Board of Commissioners meeting on July 7, 2025, spotlighted the county's tax collection efforts, revealing a robust overall collection rate of 99.12% for the fiscal year 2024-2025. Tax Assessor Deborah Hill presented a detailed report, highlighting the challenges faced in collecting delinquent taxes, which currently total over $1.26 million for the year.

Hill acknowledged the hard work of her team, particularly Jessica Suits, the assistant tax collector, who has been actively engaging with property owners to secure payments. Despite the high collection rate, Hill noted that this year has been particularly difficult, with some taxpayers failing to follow through on payment promises. The county has also seen a significant amount of delinquent taxes dating back to 1994, totaling over $3.16 million.

The meeting also touched on the county's approach to enforcing tax collections, including the controversial practice of sending deputies to knock on doors of delinquent taxpayers. This method has raised eyebrows among commissioners, with some expressing concern over its aggressiveness. Hill defended the practice, stating it is within their rights to pursue collections aggressively to ensure fairness to those who pay their taxes on time.

In addition to the collection rates, the report detailed the number of property tax bills issued, the amount collected from foreclosures, and the challenges posed by bankruptcy cases affecting tax payments. The county's strategy includes a mix of outreach and enforcement, with the goal of reducing the backlog of unpaid taxes.

As the meeting concluded, the commissioners discussed potential changes to the advertising costs associated with tax collections, noting that current legislation still requires newspaper advertisements, which can be cumbersome and costly. The board is expected to continue exploring more efficient methods for tax collection and communication with residents in the future.