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Linebarger reports delinquent tax collections for Venus ISD; November tax sale finalized
Summary
Linebarger, the district’s delinquent tax collection firm, presented turnover and collection figures, reported 57 lawsuits filed last year, a TEA collection rate at 99.2 percent and said a November tax sale is finalized for properties ready for sale.
Linebarger, the law firm that handles delinquent tax collections for Venus Independent School District, presented the district’s 2024 delinquent‑tax turnover and collection report at the Sept. 15 board meeting.
Attorney R. Hanna, speaking for Linebarger, told trustees the firm collected $443,429 in total, with base tax collections of $338,000 included in that figure. He said the TEA collection rate — a key metric for the district — is 99.2 percent. Hanna said the firm filed 57 lawsuits last year and resolved 70 accounts; not every delinquent account requires litigation because the firm pursues mailings, phone calls and payment agreements in advance of lawsuits.
Hanna said the 2024 delinquency turned over to Linebarger on July 25 included 679 accounts totaling $373,000, a turnover amount and account count smaller than the prior year. He attributed the decrease to homestead exemptions, valuation adjustments by the appraisal district and other factors. He also told trustees that one of the top delinquent accounts is in bankruptcy and Linebarger’s bankruptcy unit is handling collection priority in that case.
On tax sales, Hanna said a tax sale that he had previously expected in October is finalized for November and that properties listed as “ready for tax sale” will be included unless the taxpayer pays off the account before the sale date.
Hanna explained the firm’s typical collection steps — multiple mailings, phone calls, text outreach and research on bad addresses — and said the firm performs outreach prior to litigation. He told trustees he and his staff are available to work with district representatives on outreach to large delinquent accounts and noted that some information on accounts is publicly available through the county tax office and the tax assessor’s website.
The presentation was informational; trustees did not take action during the report. Hanna said his contact information is included in the board packet for follow up.
