16-A Bolster Appearance07/03/2002 14:04 FAX 9037583331 LGBP&S ~002
LINEBARGER GOGGAN BLAIR PEiqlA & SAMPSON, LLP
217 N. CENTER STREET
LONGVIEW, TEXAS 75601
903/757-5448
FAX 903/758-3331
July3,2002
City of Paris
Council Members
Paris, Texas
RE: Delhlquent Tax Collection Report
Honorable Members:
Since you retained our firm beginning January 1 of this year, we have been busy implementing a
collection program on your behalf and addressing some of the City's apecial needs. This is the
fixst of hopefully many reports I will present to the Council to keep you informed on our firm's
actions on your behal£
First, let me address collections. R takes a while to get a collection progxam up to spee,:l, but 1
feel we arc well on our way. We began our collection efforts by making a mailing in January
targeted only to the City of Paris delinquent taxpayers. We followed that up in February with
our regular mailing on behalf of all our Lamer County clients. Additional mailings will be made
this month and in November. We have targeted and izdtiated litigation o~ 83 of your larger
delinquent accounts involving nearly $200,000.00 owed to the City. A great d~l more accounts
will be targeted in the upcoming months until at least half your roll is either collected, under
litigation or payment agreements have been signed.
This activity has already resulted in a si~ificant increase in your d¢linquunt tax collections. We
have collected approximately $114,000.00 in delinquent taxes owed for the years 2000 and prior
in our first six months. Tiffs compares to collections of approximately of $88,000.00 in the prior
six months. This is a 30% increase. We expect the upcoming six months to be even more
productive.
We have also devoled a great deal of resoua'ces in assisting the City in its ,~th Street drainage
project. By thc use of Tax Warrants we seized and sold 20 lots in thc Williams and Booth
Additions. While this did not generate a large amount of tax revenue to the City, disposing or
the property through Tax Warrants was substanlially less expensive than traditional
condemnation procccdhigs. We are continuing to target vacant and abandoned properties within
the City through Tax Warrants. 16 additional properties will be offered for sale in August.
07/03/2002 ~4:04 FA~ 9037583331 LGBP&S ~005
I look forward to speaking with you Monday night and answering any questions you may have
regarding our collection program or the firms actions on thc City's behalf. It is a pleasurc to
serve you and the citizens of Paris.
Sincerely,
Partner