Some counties across the Upper Cumberland running behind on collecting 2024 property taxes.
DeKalb County has reported that it is severely behind in its 2024 collection. Putnam County officials say the county is slightly behind in collecting 2024 property taxes. Trustee Freddie Nelson said about $1.3 million in taxes are still owed this year, compared to roughly $1.2 million owed at the same time last year for 2023. Nelson said many people are struggling to pay their property taxes.
“I think a lot of it has to do with the economy and people just, everything is just so high for people, and out in the public, you know, groceries and gas and whatever,” Nelson said. “You know it’s just so high.”
Van Buren County Trustee Beth Simmons said Van Buren is seeing similar results.
“Currently, we are on track to meet our previous year’s goal of only around percent uncollected,” Simmons said. “Currently, we are a little above one percent, but I believe by the time the deadline comes, we will be right on target.”
Nelson said in Putnam County, he usually turns over about $400,000 in uncollected property taxes to the clerk and master’s office. Nelson said last year the number doubled, and he is concerned that he will have to do that again before the March 31 deadline.
“They really don’t have a long time to pay before I have to turn the clerk and master,” Nelson said. “I just feel for the people who are unable to pay their taxes, and to pay them on time. I know that once they go over to the clerk and master’s office, how much they are gonna have to pay because they are gonna have to pay attorney fees, clerk fees, and additional interest fees that they are gonna have to pay, and it is gonna go up quite a bit on them.”
Overton County is one county that is actually slightly ahead of schedule when collecting 2024 property taxes. Overton County Trustee Peggy Clark Smith said 2024 collections are looking good.
“We are less than $250,000 is all we have got left on the books for 2024, and that is really good out of $11 million,” Smith said.
Smith said sending out more notices to those often reminds those who are delinquent that they still owe on 2024 taxes.
Jackson County’s Trustees office reports that they are right on schedule with 2024 collections. Each Trustee encourages people to call their office if they are struggling to pay their 2024 property taxes.