By Blake Deshazo

The Selma Times-Journal

Dallas County loses thousands of dollars every year from people that vacate Jim Minor Garden Homes without paying their bills, but a new program from the Association of County Commissions of Alabama should help the county recoup some of that money.

The County Tax Refund Setoff Pilot Program allows counties to retroactively turn in the names of people that owe them money. In turn, when the debtors file state income taxes, the state will put a hold on their income tax return check.

“We write off so much every year for the tenants that have left owing. This is a way to recoup,” said Dallas County Administrator Barbara Harrell. “They’re leaving owing us money, so we’ll just send [their names] up to the state, and we’ll just wait.”

According to Harrell, the county has had a few “hits” so far on people that owe the county money.

“These individuals have 30 days to respond [saying] either we do owe it or we don’t owe it,” Harrell said. “After that we go into a mediation, and we decide [if] they really owe it or not. If they don’t owe it, we release the funds. If they do owe it, then we get the money.”

Harrell said the county lost between $15,000 and $20,000 just last year, and she is hoping the program pays off for Dallas County.

“If all of these people file taxes, then we can recoup that money. We may not be able to recoup all of it the first year,” Harrell said. “But say they owe $2,000, and their [income tax] check is maybe $150 to $200. The balance stays in there until the next time.”

The debtor’s name will stay in the state’s system and will continue to have a hold on their income tax return check until the debt is paid in full.

“One ‘hit’ that we had left six years ago, and that’s some of the money we’re recouping,” Harrell said. “As long as we have the documentation that they’ve left and owe this money … the sky is the limit.”

Harrell hopes participating in the program will encourage others to pay their debt before leaving the homes.