Washington County reports $796,790.23 in unpaid 2024 property taxes; letters, advertising and enforced collection planned

Washington County’s Tax Administrator, Sherri M. Wilkins, told the Board on Feb. 3 that unpaid 2024 real-property taxes that are liens on property totaled $796,790.23 as of Jan. 31, 2025.

Wilkins described the county’s next steps under state statute: letters notifying taxpayers of delinquency will be mailed during the week of March 10 and delinquent accounts will be advertised in April. She said the debt set-off letter requires accounts to be 60 days delinquent (the date of delinquency was Jan. 7), which is why the letters are scheduled for March. Wilkins also said the office is setting up monthly payment agreements to have taxes paid by June 2025; if a taxpayer defaults on an agreement the Tax Office will use enforced collection measures including wage garnishment, bank attachment, debt set-off and foreclosure.

The Board voted to approve the Tax Collector’s Report (motion by Commissioner John C. Spruill, seconded by Commissioner Ann C. Keyes), recorded in the minutes as a unanimous vote. Wilkins signed the report and the minutes note statutory authority under North Carolina General Statute 105-369(a) and related provisions for notice and advertising.

The tax office said taxpayers have been contacting the office to set up payment agreements; the minutes record that Delinquent Tax Coordinator Christal Watkins will use enforcement tools if agreements default. The Board took no additional policy action at the meeting beyond approving the Tax Collector’s Report and authorizing the usual statutory notices and collection steps.

The report and associated mailing/advertising schedule are recorded in the Board minutes and will be executed by the Tax Office as described.