Leslie Young, Craven County tax collector, briefed commissioners Jan. 5 on the office's busiest day for tax payments and described operational steps the office used to handle volume.

Young said the tax office had four working windows and that the office collected $2,832,000 at the counter that day. She credited two process improvements — providing free parking for taxpayers and staff 'working the line' by taking payments outside the counter — for smoothing transactions. "I easily collected in those 4 days more than 300 payments," she said, and thanked staff and supportive deputies who provided security in the lobby.

The transcript includes a garbled figure when Young described the total collected via credit card and escrow; the audio transcription reads "through credit card, escrow, 8,123,000.000 today," which is inconsistent with surrounding context. Young also reminded the board she will report delinquent totals on the first Monday in February as required by statute.

Commissioners praised the tax office's customer service and said constituents reported positive experiences. Young said she will return with the formal delinquent report next month.