Better news about Hall tax collections

GAINESVILLE - Hall County Commissioners got better news than they were expecting Thursday from Tax Commissioner Keith Echols about tax collections.

Echols said at Wednesday's Commission work session collections are 10 percent off, coming in an 85 percent instead of the usual 95 percent this time of year.

He gave more encouraging figures at Thursday's regular meeting.

"They were 89.92 percent of the taxes collected, this is just 1.5 percent less than it was last year so we're in good shape," Echols said.

Commission Chairman Tom Oliver said tax collections are an indicator of how the recession is affecting county revenues.

Echols also reported that collections on back taxes were 30 percent up from last year.
Echols reported that a big factor in the better collection percentage was a $100,000 payment one developer made on his 2007 tax bill.