Former Forrest County collections clerk faces embezzlement charges

[SoMissTV]

From the Clarion-Ledger (http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061204/NEWS/61204054).

Has this been covered at all in the HA?

[Tully Mars]

Maybe she'll rat out some others :smt118

I have no doubt that they are there, its just a matter of time. The tax collector's office is one of the most poorly run in the county.

[HoneyBun]

Surely you jest, Haweye!!!

[HoneyBun]

Dude, now you've gotten me scared!!! I do own property but have not had a problem so far. And I thought you would just respond with something silly, like me, and end with "and don't call me Shirley".

[Hermione]

Have the Hattiesburg tax bills come out yet? I bought this house in April 04, and the last two bills came to the previous owner. And I have been downtown in person to change it.

[Maggie-Doodle]

I read the HA cover to cover and I havn't seen the article as of yet...watch for it soon though since it has now been on MH!

[fkingsweet]

Have the Hattiesburg tax bills come out yet? I bought this house in April 04, and the last two bills came to the previous owner. And I have been downtown in person to change it.

This is because the tax collectors run in this area (especially Forrest Co. - Lamar is doing better) two years behind so the previous owner would have been on the tax roll until now - it should come with your name on it. You changed it with the tax department and they have it it just takes approximately 2 years for the other owners name to roll off the tax roll and your to get on there.

[IGID]

And if you own land that is made up of several parcels that use to be in somebody elses name, make sure all the taxes are paid in full for all the parcels. Even when it was in the other persons name. If not, it will be sold at a tax sale and you may not even know.

[TheKing]

the CL truthfully does a better job than the HA of covering the deep rooted stuff in hattiesburg.

but i wouldnt knock the HA about it... its probably got more to do with the corporate level fascination with numbers than you could imagine

[Earnest T Bass]

I think the news release came from the office of the state auditor located in jackson ms. So it makes sense that the clarion ledger breaks it first. not taking up for the ha mind you.

[mikedabiker]

I have no doubt that they are there, its just a matter of time. The tax collector's office is one of the most poorly run in the county.

One could say it's the worst run and of course the best run since it's the only one in the county.

[fuzzis]

One could say it's the worst run and of course the best run since it's the only one in the county.

Hey! mikdabiker! How ya been?

fuzzis

[mikedabiker]

doing well how are you?

just a reminder all county jobs are up for election next year.

[TheKing]

Ya know truthfully, this type of stuff doesnt does not surprise me in the least.

Southern Louisiana is known for its deep seeded corruption and I have a feeling that it does not magically stop at the River.

[IGID]

I'm not sure I would call what they are doing corruption. It's all perfectly legal for people to search the tax rolls and find delinquent taxes and pay them up and try to take peoples land that may not even know the taxes were due. Sleazy? yes. Illegal? no

[Hillary44]

I'm not sure I would call what they are doing corruption. It's all perfectly legal for people to search the tax rolls and find delinquent taxes and pay them up and try to take peoples land that may not even know the taxes were due. Sleazy? yes. Illegal? no


Here is a quick tax sale explanation.
A land owner has from Jan. to Aug. to pay their current year taxes. (2006's become due in Jan. 2007), if you don't pay your current year taxes by Aug. then the tax collector has a tax sale that begins the last Monday of every Aug. You have people from all over the country who come to miss. to buy these taxes at these tax sales. Once your property sells at this tax sale then you have 2 years to redeem your taxes, if you do not redeem/pay your taxes in that 2 year redemption period then you could lose your property to the person who payed/purchased your property at the tax sale. These tax sale purchaser's buy these taxes because they earn 1.5% interest on the money they put up at the tax sale for every month the property is not redeemed. Ex. your property sold at the Aug. 2005 sale for the 2004 taxes and you redeemed/paid your delinquent taxes in Aug. 2006, then you have 12months @ 1.5% = 18% that the purchaser has earned on the money they put up at the tax sale. Now, if you don't redeem/pay your taxes with that 2 year window then you lose your property to that purchaser. I am sure I have really got you confused now, but thats the way I understand it.

[wilebill]

I'm not sure I would call what they are doing corruption. It's all perfectly legal for people to search the tax rolls and find delinquent taxes and pay them up and try to take peoples land that may not even know the taxes were due. Sleazy? yes. Illegal? noI'm pretty sure it is illegal for the tax clerk to do this. Seems I remember reading where one got in trouble not too long ago for doing this very thing.

[mikedabiker]

anyone can come in and pay a person's taxes at any time. The land sale is done the same time ever year. Only exception was Katrina hit on land sale day last year.

But if you own property I would make it a point to pay my taxes and keep the receipts. Make sure the receipts cover the entire block of land you own (ie. acreas, Lots etc) and look over the paper before the land sale for your property or any family member or friend's property.

Most people that buy the land at tax sale aren't after the land. They want the 18% interest. In some cases the person making the buy at a land sale may get stuck with property that they don't want and have no use for.

In a former career and in another county I knew of a person that purchased land at land sales that had good timber on it. When he got the land he would cut all the timber and then sale it back to the original land owner for the taxes due. Was he doing something illiegal? NO but I doubt he got any christmas cards from the folks that he stiffed for the timber sales. In this case he made big bucks on timber plus got the 18% interest on his investment.

[jmack]

If certain things are done on purpose, and with the future intent to screw over the trusting unimformed and the elderly, it's pure fraud in the most perverted sense of the word.

If they are elderly, then they have been around long enough to know that everyone has to pay taxes if they own a home.

[Tully Mars]

One could say it's the worst run and of course the best run since it's the only one in the county.

I could say a bunch of crap but what I meant was in comparison to the other county departments.

If they are elderly, then they have been around long enough to know that everyone has to pay taxes if they own a home.

Not if they are over the age of 65 and therefore exempt from Ad Valorem taxes.

[jmack]

Most people over 65 are not totally exempt from paying property taxes. You are only exempt on a $75,000 house.

I just don't think ignorance is an excuse. The IRS doesn't send you a notice but you still are required to pay taxes.

[jmack]

If you own property, best keep your eye on apprasials, changing pin numbers and parcel numbers, outdated owner's addresses, deliquent tax rolls, lost tax bills for certain parcels which puts your property on deliquent tax rolls, deliquent tax land buyers, etc, ect, etc.

Again, this should be common sense 101. Of course you should keep up with your property. You've got several years to redeem. Where you in a coma Rip Van Winkle?

If I go up in Donanelle's and eat with some of my friends and walk out without paying and say "I paid last time", I hope you are just as understanding.

[Kitty]

Speaking of embezzlement charges, an ex-bank teller in Vicksburg (http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061205/NEWS/612050380/1001/NEWS) has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison and ordered to repay the $1.3 million she embezzled to support her gambling addiction.

That's right. $1.3 million.

[mikedabiker]

has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison and ordered to repay the $1.3 million she embezzled to support her gambling addiction.

That's right. $1.3 million.

Where can you find a job around here paying 1.3 million for 33 months work. She got a pretty good rate there didn't she?

[RevranAL]

Dearest Ferum Brethren,

Brotha Hawkeye has hit the nail on the head, as he speaks from past troubled experiences, with wisdom beyond his years

Brotha Delbert need to gets a handle on this, that Tax Collectors Office intentions are honest as K Feds were marryin' Britney Spears

Glory Be! Glory Be!
RevranAL