NEWS
Bowie Council fills board spots; addresses delinquent tax collection
By BARBARA GREEN
Bowie City Councilors filled spots on two of its boards and increased the penalty to defray the costs of collecting delinquent taxes at its Tuesday night meeting.
Tony Fidelie Jr.of Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins and Mott LLP, a Wichita Falls law firm that collects delinquent taxes for the city discussed amending its contract in two areas.
• Setting an earlier date for the early turnover of business personal property moving from July 1 to April 1. Fidelie explained this is property used by a business to generate income such as inventory, furniture, fixtures, etc.
When taxes go delinquent on Feb 1 under Texas law those taxes can be turned over to an outside law firm for collection on July 1 if they remain unpaid. The tax code was recently changed to allow the earlier date, which Fidelie said allows the firm to get a “jump start” on those accounts and “hopefully get them collected before businesses go out of business or inventory is otherwise liquidated.
• Raise the amount used to defray costs from 15 to 20 percent. When taxes are turned over on July 1 a 15 percent penalty is attached.
If someone owes the entity $1,000, the 15 percent ($150) is added to the bill. The firm collects the full amount giving the entity $1,000 and keeping the $150 to pay its bills.
Fidelie said the law is set up so the taxing entity does not have to pay for collection services or the taxpayers who pay on time.
In 2001 the legislature changed the rate to 20 percent. Fidelie said they are working with their other customers in Montague County to make this change in 2017 to accommodate increased expenses most businesses experience.
Read the full story in the weekend News.
Infrastructure projects once more dominate the agenda of the Bowie City Council when it meets at 6 p.m. on May 13.
A pair of proclamations open the meeting, one for Emergency Medical Services Week and National Travel and Tourism Week.
City Manager Bert Cunningham will present information on the substation transformer project, the phase two sewer line replacement contract, status of the infrastructure fund and plans for the budget.
A pair of public works requests will ask for $24,000 out of the infrastructure fund to buy nine fire hydrants and $29,825 from the meter tap account to buy replacement meters. Public Works Director Stony Lowrance is expected to make that presentation.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
The final Bowie Business Boost featuring secrets from a secret shopper will be on May 21 in the Bowie Community Center.
This four-part series that kicked off in February has explored many of the every day challenges a business faces and how to tackle them. Speakers have challenged attendees to act and boost the success of their business and motivate employees to achieve their goals and meet the firm’s mission.
On May 21, Alysia Cook will bring “8 Secrets from a Secret Shopper.” Breakfast is at 7:30 a.m. with the presentation 8 to 9:30 a.m. Cook, Professional Community and Economic Developer and principal of Opportunity Strategies, is a proven expert in the field of customer service and hospitality. Her secret shopper program will provide a blueprint to ensure your customers have a great experience in all of your business interactions and then become your best ambassadors.
Janis Crawley, executive director of the Bowie Economic Development Corporation, said she has been pleased with the attendance and the programs as guests come away with lots of great ideas. The BEDC hosted the program.
For information call the BEDC at 940-872-4193, text 940-531-8201 or email us at [email protected]
Construction on the new Allsup’s truck stop located at the edge of Bowie on U.S. Highway 287 and State Highway 59 is moving along at a quick pace as the colorful new store shows off the new store colors of red, white and blue. No information was available when the new location may be completed, but staff is being hired. (News photo by Barbara Green)
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