Harnett County reports $78M in tax collections and a 99% collection rate

During the Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session on July 15, 2025, key discussions centered around the county's tax levy and collection performance, highlighting significant increases in revenue and ongoing efforts to improve data accuracy.

The meeting began with a detailed overview of the tax levy, which saw an original build amount of $77.6 million, reflecting a 5.41% increase from the previous year. Notably, the discovered levy—representing unlisted properties—experienced a remarkable 34.35% increase. Additionally, penalties, fees, and interest rose by 13%, contributing to an overall increase of $4.4 million in revenue compared to the prior year.

Total collections reached $78 million, marking a 5.9% increase. The county's efforts to enhance data quality were evident, as adjustments and releases due to billing errors decreased by 11.27%. This improvement is crucial for maintaining accurate tax records and ensuring efficient revenue collection.

The collection rates for various categories were also discussed. Harnett County achieved a 99.28% collection rate for real and personal property taxes, aligning with similar counties. Public service taxes were fully collected at 100%, while motor vehicle collections stood at 94.84%. However, gap bills—taxes on vehicles with registration lapses—remained challenging, with a collection rate of only 56.57%. Excluding these gap bills would raise the overall collection rate to 99.44%.

The discussion also touched on the complexities of collecting gap bills, which arise when vehicle registrations lapse. The tax administrator explained the process of billing and the challenges of enforcing collections, particularly for amounts under $100, which can be costly to pursue. The need for legislative changes to streamline the collection process through the DMV was emphasized, as this could alleviate some of the burdens on the county.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored Harnett County's strong fiscal performance and commitment to improving tax collection processes. As the county continues to grow, maintaining high collection rates will be essential for supporting public services and infrastructure. The board plans to further discuss the collection of delinquent taxes for the upcoming fiscal year, indicating ongoing efforts to enhance revenue management.