County sees results from tax crackdown

Officials have collected more than $1.2 million since Jan. 1

“Most just deny that the taxes are theirs. After the letter or the lien letter is sent out they become more accommodating and want to work out some type of payment arrangement.”

Miller County Tax Collector Cathy Hardin Harrison and Delinquent Tax Investigator Sheila Sinyard strive to collect taxes for the county in a kind but aggressive way. And it seems to be working.

From Jan. 1 to May 31, 2016, Miller County collected $866,137.69 in delinquent taxes.

For the same time period in 2017, the county collected $1,201,832.15, for an increase of $335,694.46.

“Of that amount, $228,784.11 was collected by the county’s delinquent tax investigator,” Harrison said.

When Harrison became the tax collector in 2015, there were $14 million in delinquent taxes going back to 1994. The figure was astounding, and Harrison was determined to do something about it.

“We have been aggressively pursuing the delinquent accounts for nonpayment. This position continues to collect large sums of money on a weekly and monthly basis. The Quorum Court approval of this position is appreciated and beneficial to the general funds,” Harrison said.

The delinquent taxes inspired Harrison to research options to improve Miller County’s tax collections.

“I attended state meet-

ings (Arkansas County Tax Collectors Association) and sat on the front row to listen,” she said.

Harrison explained to the Quorum Court the problems with collections and asked to hire a specialist to collect pastdue taxes.

Sinyard was hired in March 2016 as the delinquent tax investigator. Her work includes using public records, computers and the telephone to track back taxes owed by businesses.

Sinyard said those in arrears run the gamut in assigning blame—from their accountant to a spouse.

“Most just deny that the taxes are theirs. After the letter or the lien letter is sent out they become more accommodating and want to work out some type of payment arrangement,” Harrison said.

The collectors also have sympathy for taxpayers.

Both recalled an elderly woman whose husband had been taking care of the taxes. After he died, she was unsure about the procedures to pay. She was worried and got a small loan so she could pay the taxes.

The first letter asking the business to pay their taxes is described as being “soft.”

The second letter is “more stern.”

The final option is to put a lock on the business’ door, but we haven’t taken it that far,” Sinyard said.

If a business continues to ignore its delinquent taxes, state law allows county officials to conduct a public auction at the business and sell off its taxable assets until the debt is paid.

Harrison said her office soon will post delinquent businesses on the county’s website.