Tax collections were looking a bit grim earlier this year, but now the Surry County tax administrator said that the percentage collected by April was the highest it has been for the same time period in the past six years.

Michael Hartgrove, Surry County tax administrator, reported to the Surry County Commissioners this month that tax collections were at 96.13 percent by the end of March. Last year at this time, the amount collected was 95.88 percent.

“It’s a good trend,” said Hartgrove last week. “We’re very active with the collections.”

The tax administrator said that by April 1 the tax office has a good idea of where it stands. This is because by April the office has met all of its state requirements to contact people and advertise delinquencies in the newspaper.

Hartgrove said, “It’s looking okay.”

Over the past year, Hartgrove said the tax office has made “a conscious effort to strengthen our collection procedures.”

Hartgrove said, “We’ve established a tremendous amount of payment agreements with folks.”

He explained to the county commissioners at a recent budget work session that the office enforces the debts of people who don’t contact them to let them know why they haven’t paid their bill.

“You can’t get blood out of a turnip,” said Hartgrove. “We’ve got to work with folks, and we will, but they’ve got to contact us.”

“I like that attitude,” said Commissioner Craig Hunter.

Hartgrove said last week that he is not sure if the collection percentage by June 30, the end of the fiscal year, will increase from last year’s final percentage. He said a lot of variables are involved, one being how many people reach an agreement with the office to pay their bills later.

But Hartgrove said, “Ever year we try to collect more. I hope we’ll have that.”

At the time of the February commissioners planning retreat, Hartgrove didn’t expect the collection percentage to increase like it has. He said, “It’s been very difficult to judge.”

The primary goal of the tax office this year was to collect the budgeted amount of $29,813,299, which would keep collections above 96 percent. A secondary goal is to collect 97 to 97.5 percent of total taxes owed. Last year, the county met and slightly exceeded its budgeted amount and collected 97.75 percent of the total owed.

“We’re less than $600,000 away now from meeting our goal,” Hartgrove said.

The collection goal is an essential part of county budgeting. The commissioners will take the tax collection rate into account when putting together next year’s budget. It will be discussed at upcoming budget meetings.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.