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Outside firm reports $1.6 million recovered and ongoing delinquent-tax activity for MISD
Summary
Linebarger attorneys summarized delinquent-tax collection activity for Montgomery ISD, reporting more than $1.6 million recovered during the reporting period and identifying pending lawsuits and tax-deferral amounts that limit immediate collection.
Linebarger, the district's delinquent-tax collection firm, updated the Montgomery ISD Board of Trustees on Oct. 21 about collection activity for the reporting period, detailing outreach, litigation and recovery amounts.
"We have 4,665 mailings that we sent out," said James Calkins of Linebarger. Calkins told trustees the firm uses a progressive notice process that culminates in litigation if property owners do not respond; the firm's "notice of intent to sue" (a 10-day letter) is one of its most effective tools for securing payment before filing suit.
Calkins reported 38 new petitions filed against 52 accounts for about $300,023 in taxes, and $498,088.66 recovered through tax-sale-related collection activity; paid dismissals and judgments taken during the period accounted for additional recoveries. Linebarger reported total collections of just over $1.6 million in current delinquent taxes, penalties and interest during the reporting period.
The firm noted 23 pending lawsuits against 34 accounts totaling about $223,538 outstanding. Calkins also explained that some delinquent balances are tax deferrals that cannot be pursued immediately, totaling about $1.23 million or roughly 38.1 percent of the delinquent-tax balance; Linebarger said that higher deferral percentages are typical in primarily residential districts.
Trustees asked whether collections were trending up; Calkins said collections are on par with previous years and that the district's tax collector typically collects 97'99 percent of taxes in recent years, leaving Linebarger to pursue the remaining delinquencies.
No board action was required; the presentation provided the trustees with the firm's activity summary and ongoing case status.
