In an unanimous vote, the Vance County Board of Commissioners authorized the County Tax Administrator to aggressively pursue tax delinquencies over four years old by foreclosure.
It has been the policy of previous Boards to only pursue delinquent taxes by foreclosue in the tenth year.
After the tenth year, taxes are uncollectable by North Carolina statute.
The move was recommended by the Commission’s General Government Committee.
County Commissioner Dan Brummitt asked County Manager Jerry Ayscue if the collection effort would eventually be moved up to the two-year delinquency level.
Ayscue replied that the committee felt that taxpayers should “be given some time” before foreclosure.
Commissioner Danny Wright stated that it was the position of the Board in the past that it was unfair to foreclose on younger delinquencies while older ones were still outstanding.
Brummitt asked if the committee’s recommendation was an interim recommendation.
Danny Wright stated that he believed the County would see more current taxes being paid once foreclosures began.
Commissioner Terry Garrison asked whether or not the resolution pertained to individuals who have not paid taxes at all rather than those who have made arrangements to pay.
Ayscue told Garrison that it applied only to unpaid taxes where no arrangements had been made, assuming that the arrangement was reasonable and that the taxpayer “stuck to it”.
Commissioner Eddie Wright moved to support the resolution with Commissioner Scott Hughes seconding.
In the City of Henderson’s latest financial audit, mention was made of the County’s low tax collection rate and its negative effect on the City’s finances.