Tax-collection contractor reports $10.4M in collections; court approves resale resolution for delinquent parcels

Representatives from the county’s tax‑collection contractor reported semi‑annual results and foreclosure activity and asked the court to approve a resolution authorizing resale of properties seized for unpaid ad valorem taxes.

Linebarger Goggin Blair & Sampson reported that, during the reporting period, staff mailed more than 76,000 statements, made or received over 33,000 phone calls, knocked on over 2,200 doors and initiated more than 450 payment agreements. The contractor said it had collected about $10,400,000 in the period, roughly $1,200,000 more than the prior year’s comparable period.

The contractor reported 66 properties targeted in foreclosure/collection activity during the reporting period; they said the properties were primarily vacant lots, abandoned homes or commercial properties and that 16 payment agreements were reached for some of those properties. The contractor noted its practice is to avoid foreclosing on homesteads where possible and to seek payment agreements for residential taxpayers.

The contractor also said Hidalgo County had been a pilot recipient of Homeowner Assistance funds under the American Rescue Plan (to pay delinquent property taxes for qualifying homeowners) and that the state program had recently provided residual funds (about $175,000) to cover district clerk fees connected to delinquent tax lawsuits. The court approved a county resolution authorizing resale of certain tax‑forfeited parcels under Section 34.05 of the Texas Property Tax Code.