KINGWOOD — Preston County is launching a new effort to collect unpaid personal property taxes.
Chief Tax Deputy Jennifer Lewis told Preston County commissioners about the plan at this week’s meeting. She said it is modeled after a similar program in Monongalia County.
“We believe this is our best approach,” County Administrator Kathy Mace said. “There are a couple of other approaches that we could go to pass this, but we wanted to try this letter campaign first.”
Lewis said she talked to several counties and liked the approach taken by Mon, which she said was able to collect about 80% of delinquent personal property taxes.
A letter will be sent soon, followed by a second in March, reminding taxpayers of the unpaid tax bills, she said.
“We’ve never done that for personal property,” she said. “We started doing it a few years ago for real estate and it’s been really great.”
If none of this promotes payment, a letter drafted by Preston Prosecuting Attorney Melvin C. Snyder III will be sent regarding delinquent personal property taxes.
“In a nutshell, it says if you don’t pay your taxes, we’re going to sue you,” Commissioner Don Smith said.
Real estate taxes are resolved at the end of the year, because the property is sold at the tax sale. Personal property is not, and the county can seek to collect back five years.
Lewis is also going to begin an email list that taxpayers can opt into on the county website. It will send general reminders about tax bills coming due. She also plans to send reminders via WENS, the free Wireless Emergency Notification System operated by Preston 911.
“A lot of people would appreciate that,” Smith said, because they pay most of their bills online after getting notices.
He said if Preston could get tax collections up to 80% or more, “that’s huge.”
“I think those little reminders through the WENS system and all is a fantastic idea,” Commission President Samantha Stone said. “People are busy in this day and age. We’re not sitting at home waiting for the mail to be delivered in the box.”
Space needs
In other discussions, Mace said some county offices need more space. The prosecutor, tax office and county clerk are examples, she said.
With a month until budget work begins, she will arrange a meeting with all constitutional offices represented to discuss needs.
“It’s nice to have a wish list out there so we can see what the need is,” Smith noted.
In other matters, commissioners:
– approved 911 dispatcher Logan Seigh’s pay increase from $13 per hour to $13.25. Seigh recently completed a six-month probationary period.
– approved Circuit Clerk Betsy Castle’s hiring of Sandra Murray of Tunnelton, starting Feb. 3 at $12.50 per hour.
– approved an agreement with Reedsville to lease the town a 2007 Dodge Charger police cruiser for $1 per month.
– reappointed V.J. Davis, Kerry Shultz, Bill Larew, Amanda Pitzer and Hoy Wiles to the Preston County Clean-Up Committee.
– appointed Jeff Simcoe and Robert Gilligan to the Mountaineer Trail Authority Board.
TWEET @DominionPostWV
