Sebastian Cothern, Haywood County tax collector, told commissioners on Aug. 4 that the county's net levy for fiscal 2024 was $52,207,131 and that the office collected $51,182,005.56 as of June 30, for a 98.04% collection rate.

Cothern reviewed enforcement activity for the year: 176 wage garnishments, 404 bank attachments, six unclaimed-cash garnishments, 278 payment plans (some subsequently paid off) and 155 taxpayers enrolled in an automated ACH payment program that drafts monthly. He said the remaining balance for 2024 taxes on June 30 was $1,024,575.

Commissioners discussed trends and flood-related impacts. Cothern said collection was down slightly from the prior year (98.19%) and that some delinquency patterns reflect post‑flood property issues from recent storms and continued recovery. He said the tax office can and does work with residents: payment plans can be established in advance or after notices, and bank attachments or garnishments may be stopped if taxpayers contact the office and arrange payments.

A motion to approve the 2024 settlement of collections was made and approved unanimously.

Cothern said collection this year remains among the county's higher historic totals despite the slight decline and the increased enforcement actions compared with 2021.