Meridian City Council gets update on tax collection efforts, process

The Meridian City Council during its regular meeting on Monday evening, May 13, heard a report on the City's property tax collection services.

Scott Wert, lead attorney with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP, delivered a report on the tax collection services his firm performs on behalf of the City of Meridian.

Wert's presentation familiarized the council with Linebarger's associates who will be serving as liaisons to the city staff.

He also covered the process by which the firm's associates review, collect, and report delinquent property taxes from city residents during the calendar year.

In his report, Wert stated that as of Friday, May 10, 2024, the City of Meridian had delinquent tax balance of $66,135, from 154 different account owners, with 164 total accounts.

“The reason why there could be more accounts than owners is because an owner can have more than one or two,” he said.

Wert added that 15 accounts are delinquent in an amount greater than $1,000. Twenty accounts are delinquent in an amount between $500$999, and 56 accounts are delinquent in an amount less than $100.

Wert noted that 26 delinquent accounts are from people who are over 65, but only 10 accounts are showing a deferral.

He explained that sometimes a taxpayer over 65 keeps getting letters from Linebarger because the taxpayer has yet to applied for a deferral at the county appraisal district.

Wert further explained that the firm is working with the City's former tax collection service through the transition, noting that his firm is currently working the delinquent taxes for the 2022 season.

Wert said he would be returning to the city council in July 2024 with more information before his firm begins more collection efforts.

Solar farm

City Secretary Tiffany Gentry said that she is still in the process of investigating the ownership of a local solar farm with various local entities along with Linebarger.

The investigation was to account for an annual $90,000 payment to the school district under terms of a tax abatement with the City of Meridian.

Gentry said she has contacted the Meridian ISD, the Bosque County Appraisal District, and EEOC in order to locate the possible new owners of the solar farm.

“[The school district] researched everything throughout all their financials the last several years, and they have not received a dime,” Gentry said.

Gentry said the City of Meridian still has the original contract on file at city hall, but she still needs to organize the paperwork related to the tax abatement.