Titus County approves contingency contract to collect JP fines; consultant reports on $596,000 delinquent tax turnover

The Titus County Commissioners Court on Sept. 8 approved a contingency-fee contract with Purdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins, and Mott LLP to collect delinquent fines and fees from the county’s Justice of the Peace courts.

Patrick Woods, an attorney with the firm, told the court the contract would operate at no net cost to the county: the statutory penalty for collection work is 30 percent and is passed through to defendants, not paid by Titus County. “This does not cost the county a dime,” Woods said during his presentation.

Woods and Tiger Wersham, identified in the presentation as the county consultant, said the firm already works for roughly 100 counties across Texas and provides collection services for both court fines and delinquent property taxes. Melissa Stevens, Titus County’s tax assessor-collector, was present and identified as a partner in the coordination work with the firm.

Key points from the law firm presentation and supporting materials: - Turnover amount: Woods said the delinquent-tax turnover to the firm on July 1 was $596,000; the firm had collected about 35 percent of that amount by the time of the Sept. 8 meeting. - Pre-litigation work: Woods reported making over 2,000 phone calls, mailing more than 3,300 letters and updating about 1,200 addresses before filing suits. - Active litigation: Since the firm began intensified work, Woods reported 55 lawsuits filed and about 264 properties in active suit. - Roll composition: Woods said 54 percent of the delinquent accounts are for $100 or less; he noted only a handful of accounts are in the $5,000–$10,000 range and that the county’s delinquent roll lacks very large single accounts. - Deferrals: Approximately 3 percent of the delinquent roll is in deferral status, Woods said. - Software and data coordination: Woods described plans to negotiate data transfers with the county’s court-software provider (referred to in the presentation as NetData) and to coordinate with an existing collections vendor (referred to as GHS) where necessary.

Discussion and county context: Commissioners noted they had spoken with Justice of the Peace judges (identified in the meeting as Judge Dunn and Judge Agan) and confirmed both judges were “on board” with the firm stepping in to handle collections. Woods said the firm would provide annual reports and offered to return in 30 days to update the court on negotiations with the court-software vendor if the court requested.

Formal action: Commissioner Mitchell moved to approve the contingent-fee contract with Purdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins, and Mott LLP; Commissioner Parker seconded the motion. The court recorded the motion as carrying unanimously.

Why it matters: The contract is intended to increase recovery of fines, fees and delinquent taxes without requiring up-front county expenditures. Woods emphasized the work is focused on improving revenue collection and noted the firm’s practice of returning collected funds to county offices and billing the court for the firm’s contingency share.

No change to county budget lines was recorded at the time of the vote; Woods said collection penalties are established by statute and would not be set by the firm or by the county beyond that statutory amount.

Follow-up: Woods said his team will coordinate with county staff and the JP courts to establish a start date and data-transfer plan. He also offered to report back within 30 days on progress with the software vendor and on initial collection efforts.

Votes at a glance (selected items from the Sept. 8 session): - Contingent-fee contract (Purdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins, and Mott LLP): approved (motion: Commissioner Mitchell; second: Commissioner Parker; outcome: approved unanimously). - Fuel/gasoline/diesel bid (Jackson Oil): approved unanimously. - Three-year computer service agreement with Bryant Information Technology, LLC (presenters also referred to a current sole provider): approved unanimously. - Order calling a special election for constitutional amendments (Nov. 4, early voting and consolidated polling locations listed by county clerk): approved unanimously. - Resolution setting tax-office early-payment discounts (3% October, 2% November, 1% December) and homestead/exemption amounts: approved unanimously. - Budget amendments, approval of minutes, acceptance of written reports and treasurer’s report, and payment of bills: all recorded as approved unanimously during the session.

The contingent-fee contract and the law firm’s tax-collection briefing represent the most substantive financial items discussed. Woods and his team framed the work as a way to collect money already owed to the county while requiring no appropriation for collection services; commissioners said they expect updates on progress.