25% of overdue personal property taxes collected

KINGWOOD — A first-time effort to collect overdue personal property taxes has proven successful for Preston County.

In January, Preston Chief Tax Deputy Jennifer Lewis told Preston County commissioners she was going to send letters to people who had past due personal property taxes from 2015 through 2018.

It was modeled after a similar effort in Monongalia County, and on Tuesday, Lewis told commissioners it is working.

So far $99,019.24 of the past due taxes of $410,743.48 has been collected, she said.

“That’s good, you’ve decreased it by about 25%” Commissioner Don Smith said.
Lewis said the effort is continuing.

“We’re preparing to send out our second letter,” Lewis said. “I’m not sure how it will be received in the midst of all this,” referring to precautions being taken to avoid the coronavirus.

The letters will have a hot pink sticker on the envelope that has “second notice” on it.

Tax deputies also went through all the 2015 personal property taxes, which will be written off at the end of this year if they are not paid. They have been able to locate taxpayers who have been gone from the last address the assessor had for at least 10 years, Lewis said.

About $4,000 of those 2015 taxes were paid, but another $55,000 remains, she said.

“We have been telling people if you don’t feel comfortable [coming in], please mail your payment because we will go by the postmark as the date received,” Lewis said.

Commission President Samantha Stone reminded residents they can pay taxes online also, if they prefer not to come into the courthouse annex. Online payments are assessed 2.2% of the tax paid plus $1.

As is their practice at meetings, commissioners also talked about road conditions. “My list of roads keeps growing that needs help,” Commissioner Dave Price said.

Stone said she has also gotten more roads and has been on several with residents. One of the most recent was Ken Snyder Road. She still hopes to meet with the Division of Highways and other agencies, such as the board of education, at some time in the future.

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