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Hunt County's tax-collection firm reports 98.4% collections for 2023, turnover of 2024 delinquencies to law firm
Summary
Purdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott told Hunt County commissioners the firm collected about $996,000 of 2023 base taxes (98.41% collection rate) and that the county had turned roughly $2.1 million in 2024 base delinquent taxes to collections as of July 1, 2025.
Purdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott updated the Hunt County Commissioners Court on Oct. 28 about delinquent-property-tax collections, outreach activity and the status of the 2023 and 2024 tax rolls.
Patrick, the presenter from the collections firm, summarized recent activity: in the past 12 months the office logged about 2,500 phone contacts, mailed "over 12,000" letters, processed more than 3,200 address updates, filed 97 suits and monitored 19 bankruptcy filings. He also said the firm placed 37 properties on the tax sale list and that staff routinely visits properties to resolve corporate-accounting gaps caused by out-of-area headquarters.
On the 2023 tax year, Patrick reported the firm collected over $996,000 in base taxes, putting the county's 2023 collection rate at 98.41% as of September. For the 2024 tax year he said the county turned just over $2.1 million in base delinquencies to the law firm for collection; as of July 1, 2024 those delinquencies represented about 95.51% collection to date and staff said about 25% of that amount had been collected by September (presenters said they would continue aggressive collection efforts).
Patrick highlighted that 28% of the county's remaining delinquent property tax dollars are in deferral accounts (resident homesteads where owners are age 65 or older or qualifying disabled). He explained those deferred balances remain due and accrue interest but cannot be pursued while the deferral is in effect; collection becomes possible only when the deferral ends (for example, on sale or transfer to a nonqualifying owner).
Patrick described the firm's approach as people-focused: "we're firm, but we're fair," he said, and added the office works with residents to set up payment agreements when appropriate. Commissioners thanked the firm for the update and asked follow-up questions about collection norms; staff said Hunt County's performance is roughly in line with comparable counties but that rural characteristics can make collections more difficult.
No formal action was required on the presentation.
