According to City Manager Jim Fatland, The City Council had terminated its contract with Transylvania County to collect property taxes. The City paid Transylvania County 3 percent for tax collection. The City provided a 2 percent discount this year for property tax bills paid by August 31.
City Tax Collector Tom Whitlock reported that the City had collected almost 66 percent of the tax levy by the end of September. This amounted to $3,242,618 compared to $36,555 from the previous year. Finance Committee Chairperson Maureen Copelof stated “I am extremely pleased on the tax collections received in our two months” and added “I am glad our citizens were able to take advantage of the two percent discount”.
Whitlock reported that the City is also collecting taxes for the Heart of Brevard (HOB) and that they will be charged ½ percent for tax collections and not the 3 percent charged in prior years. Through September 30, tax collections for the HOB totaled $74,232 compared to $2,681 the previous year. HOB Treasurer McKenzie Keenan said “Heart of Brevard greatly appreciates the efficiency of the City’s new tax collection system. Having the funds quickly distributed really helps in managing our community and economic development projects.”
Whitlock thanked the Finance Department, specifically Tina Tanner, who worked tirelessly on the implementation of tax collection.