Tax collector reports 99.73% collection rate for 2025; $13,708 remains unpaid

Susan, the town tax collector, told the Fletcher Town Council on July 8 that the town concluded 2025 with a net tax charge of $5,042,309.08 and had collected $5,028,600.35, leaving $13,708.73 outstanding for a 99.73% reported collection rate. "That equates to a 99.73% collection," she said, adding that two payments received the day of the meeting would reduce the balance further and that one large account expected payment before the end of the week.

Susan identified the largest remaining account as roughly $6,300 owed by a business called North American Trade; she said the owner reported tariff-related supply disruptions and told staff the payment should arrive "either today between now and Friday of this week," which would push the town's rate closer to 99.9%.

The tax collector described the town’s methods for locating and collecting delinquent accounts: mailed reminder notices, a delinquent-taxpayer advertisement in the Hendersonville Lightning, phone calls, emails, social media outreach, obituary checks, Secretary of State business searches and North Carolina Judicial Branch eCourt searches. She said the town had negotiated payment plans for some taxpayers and pursued state-level collections, reporting 15 collections via the North Carolina Treasury Department claim process and three collections via the state debt setoff (income tax/lottery) program. "We've done two wage garnishments and five bank attachments that we've successfully collected from," she added, and staff said no accounts were considered insolvent at this time.

Susan said the town bills about 4,600 accounts and had roughly 44 delinquent accounts remaining, though a couple paid the same day. She also outlined planned improvements to online payments: the town currently accepts only full online payments, but staff are working with the software vendor to add a partial-payment portal and e-check capability (targeted for July or possibly August) and to reduce the credit-card convenience fee.

Council members praised the tax office’s work. The mayor and a councilor agreed to move the report to the consent agenda for formal placement on the next meeting’s consent items. The council did not take any separate substantive vote on collection policy during the meeting.