Delinquent-tax firm says collections topped $1.57M; refunds rose with homestead exemptions
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Summary
Delinquent-tax counsel Hiram Gutierrez reported more than $1.57 million collected in fiscal 2024–25, noted a sharp increase in refunds (about $859,000) tied to larger homestead exemptions and appraisal appeals, and said audits added state funding in prior years.
Purdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott partner Hiram Gutierrez presented the district’s delinquent-tax collection activity for the period July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Gutierrez said the firm’s bilingual call center made more than 11,300 taxpayer contacts and mailed roughly 3,600 delinquency notices during the fiscal year.
Collection results and enforcement tools: Gutierrez reported 966 address updates, more than 300 field inspections, 88 formal payment agreements accounting for about $202,000 in base tax, 161 new petitions or interventions representing about $1.55 million in base tax, and use of tax warrants and federal‑court claims in bankruptcy cases. He said the firm put 14 properties up for tax sale during the period; nine resulted in payment or agreements, one was struck off to taxing entities and four sold, producing proceeds for the district.
Total collections: "We were able to collect over $1,570,000," Gutierrez said.
Refunds and homestead exemptions: Gutierrez warned of a substantial rise in refunds during the period — he cited about $859,000 in refunds compared with $307,000 the prior year — and tied much of the increase to taxpayers filing late homestead exemptions and to appraisal‑district value reductions from lawsuits. He said the change in homestead exemption amounts (as voters/legislature adjusted exemptions) will prompt a spike in refunds and that state mechanisms are intended to backfill local revenue losses.
Audits and state funding: Gutierrez described property-value audits the firm filed for several years that resulted in additional state funding (for example, roughly $1,037,000 for the 2022 tax year and $320,000 for 2020) and said some audit work remains under review by TEA.
Trustees asked how recent increases in homestead exemptions affect local revenue; Gutierrez said the state is expected to make the district whole under the statutory change, though the mechanics are complex and some audits remain pending.
What’s next: Staff will monitor refunds and state reimbursements and continue audits and collection activity.
Speakers quoted or referenced in this report include attorney Hiram Gutierrez.