Outside collections firm reports roughly $211,000 outstanding; council approves contingent-fee contract

Purdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins & Mott LLP presented the city's delinquent-tax and receivables work at the March 2 council meeting. Mike Darlow, the firm's presenter, said the firm's last report showed "$224,596 of base tax owed to the city for all tax years up through and including 2024," and that the firm collected about $12,000 in the previous 30 days, leaving a little over $211,000 outstanding.

Darlow said approximately one-third of the firm's current caseload is in "action pending" status, meaning the firm is pursuing voluntary collection and, where that fails, will file suit and pursue service and potential property sale. He noted that roughly 11% of amounts are deferred due to senior or disability deferrals and described the firm's use of text-message outreach ("we've sent out over 11,000 text messages") and a case-resolution program to drive people into municipal court.

Following the presentation, the council considered and approved a contingent-fee contract with the same firm pursuant to the Texas Tax Code. Miss Hurst told council the contract is on a contingent-fee basis and that the firm is "compensated only from amounts successfully collected," so there is no upfront city cost. The council moved, seconded and the motion carried as recorded.

Why it matters: The contract authorizes the continued use of an outside collections firm to pursue delinquent taxes and other receivables; council approved the contract under the statutory authority referenced in the meeting notice.