Sam Jones, the tax collector for Vance County, made his monthly report to the Vance County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night.
Jones brought Bob Pearson of Pearson Appraisal Services to the meeting with him. Pearson Appraisal Services is doing re-appraisals of Vance County properties for the 2008 tax year.
County commissioner Tommy Hester remarked that he was impressed with the company. Commissioner Danny Wright joked that “they get out of their cars” when doing property appraisals.
Jones reported on collections for the month of August, 2006. The document he presented to the board may be viewed here.
The tax collector noted that 2006 tax bills were sent out in August, adding to the tax levy.
Board member Wilbur Boyd informed those present that money collected after the tax year it was due collects interest.
County commissioner Deborah Brown asked for comparisons between collections for current months and the same months in 2005. Jones said he would try to have it by the next meeting.
Brown indicated she was interested in knowing what the collection rate for August 2005 was.
Danny Wright noted that it took nine years to collect 99% of taxes, referring to the collection rate for 1996. He expressed a need for more stringent enforcement.
Jones stated that his office is trying to collect in “any way that the law allows”. Jones also said that his office also collects on automobiles, not just houses. He said that he has problems collecting on automobiles.
When Hester asked if foreclosures and garnishing is being done. Jones replied that it was. He also said that foreclosures do not generate a lot of money, but they do let people know that it could happen.
The commission noted that there would be a change in how automobile tax is collected in 2010. Apparently, the state will collect taxes at the same time the registration fee is paid. Jones expressed the fear that people would simply not renew their registrations because of the amount of money involved in the transaction if the vehicle is fairly new and the owner lives in the city.