Forsyth County reports 98.94% collection rate for FY25 amid reappraisal-related payment timing issues

Deputy Tax Assessor/Collector Mike Pollock presented the county's annual tax collector settlement and reported that staff collected $21,262,262 against an approximately $24,000,000 base at the June 30 cutoff, producing an official collection rate of 98.94% for the year. Pollock said the adjusted collection rate — which removes protected amounts such as bankruptcies and items sent to foreclosure counsel — would be about 99.99%. "So that was, over $2,700,000 above the budget amount in taxes this year," he said, noting enforcement measures and collection tools (wage garnishments, bank attachments, debt set off, levy of personal property) that produced results.

Board members and staff discussed factors that reduced timely payments this year, including an unprecedented reappraisal that increased tax bills and a rise in bankruptcies (bankruptcy impact roughly $210,677 across multiple years and $63,770 for 2025 bills). Pollock said the department will mail 2026 tax bills and include coupons to allow taxpayers to split large real estate bills into up to five payments to improve compliance. The settlement document was provided electronically to commissioners and staff said they will continue reviewing collection techniques and outreach to mitigate timing issues caused by higher bills.