By Erin Smith
The Bladen County Tax Office will review and implementing new procedures to help improve the County’s tax collection rate.
On Monday night, Bladen County Tax Administrator, Renee Davis, told the Bladen County Board of Commissioners the ad valorem tax collection rate for the county is at 95.6 percent.
“Our office has put more effort into collections,” said Davis.
She said the North Carolina Department of Revenue had recently performed a site visit to the Bladen County Tax office and had made four suggestions to assist the staff with collections.
Davis said the first suggestion is account maintenance. She said the team with the Department of Revenue suggested periodically reviewing and reorganizing “rollover accounts.” Davis said as a remedy to that, a part-time person was hired to research delinquent accounts and trying to locate the owners.
She said her staff is also trying to work on accounts where they have not received responses to letters and notifications. Davis said they are trying to verify mailing addresses, telephone numbers, and other methods of contacting the property owner.
Davis said a second recommendation from the Department of Revenue team is to revise the payment plans and make the terms of the plan more specific.
“The Department of Revenue recommended revising the payment plan and being more aggressive on the payment plan,” said Davis.
She said her staff has worked to revise the payment plan application. Davis said they have extended the number of months to pay and including pre-payments on the individual’s taxes for next year. Davis explained the goal is to help the property owner to catch up their taxes, which are in arrears and to help them to pay ahead.
Davis said the property owner is given a copy of the payment plan when they sign it.
“We stress if a payment is missed, we will start bank attachments,” said Davis.
Commissioner Ophelia Munn-Goins asked about taking someone’s Social Security payment. Davis explained that with a bank attachment it only affects whatever funds are in the bank.
She said the tax office contacts the bank and gives the bank the property owners name and information, and the bank can research the client and make the attachment.
Commissioner Munn-Goins also asked about mailing the payment plans out with the regular tax bill, as it is done in New Hanover County. Davis said she would look into it.
Davis said the Department of Revenue team stressed enforcement. She added the team also stressed checking building security and ensuring Tax Office staff receive training on dealing with emotionally charged people.
She said Tax Office staff are receiving training on the new payment plans, and County staff are searching for training on dealing with emotionally charged people.
Davis told the board she will have an update in the Spring regarding how the new procedures are working.
Commissioner Arthur Bullock asked, “How are you promoting this to the public?”
Davis replied, “We are sending notices or calling people trying to get them to come in.”
She added individuals were on the old payment plans, but did not abide by them will be given a chance to sign up for the new payment plan.
In other business:
*Dan Gerlach, President of the Golden Leaf Foundation, made a presentation of $390,000 to be used for the purchase of four generators for the public water system. 
Bladen County Commissioners Chairman, Ray Britt, asked about funding to move businesses that were flooded in Bladenboro. Gerlach said Golden Leaf has in the past provided funds for offices to move out of an area designated as a floodplain.
“We helped Fair Bluff,” said Gerlach.
Gerlach added that funds are available for projects such as water and sewer.
*The board voted to approve Hilco transport to provide transportation services for solid waste transportation services.
*Jessie Miars, with Holland Consulting Planners, updated the Commissioners regarding the FEMA Hazard Mitigation projects from Hurricane Matthew.
Miars recommended the following firms for professional services:
Asbestos Inspection Services to Keenan Construction and Consulting Company;
Legal Services to Johnson Law Firm;
Surveying Services to Walker Surveying Company;
Engineering Services -Chris Holmes in Wilmington.
Commissioner Charles Ray Peterson asked why they did not choose someone closer to provide the engineering services. Mars replied, Holmes had been the most responsive and had the most experience with elevating houses.
Commissioner Michael Cogdell asked if this would replace houses, and Miars replied there are different remedies available based on the condition of the house.
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