BROWNSVILLE — The Cameron County tax office will be filing more than 300 lawsuits against delinquent taxpayers this morning.
The lawsuits include individuals and businesses who collectively have failed to pay about $2.4 million in property taxes owed to the county and other local government jurisdictions from tax years 2009 and earlier, according to a press release.
The law firm of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP will file these lawsuits on behalf of the county. The properties are located in Harlingen, Brownsville, Combes, San Benito, Los Fresnos, La Feria, Rio Hondo, Port Isabel, Santa Rosa and Santa Maria.
“We understand how taxpayers are affected by the economy, but everyone must still pay their property taxes,” Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre Jr. said.
“When some taxpayers don’t pay their fair share, it puts a tremendous strain on local governments trying to provide police and fire protection, street maintenance, public school and library services; it affects everyone.”
Yzaguirre said it would be unfair not to aggressively pursue delinquent taxpayers for this reason.
John Guevara, an attorney and partner with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, said the delinquent taxpayers are mailed notices that their taxes are overdue. They are told how much they owe, who they owe it to, and that they need to pay it or face litigation.
“We take extraordinary steps to work with taxpayers to help them meet their tax obligations. Property visits, telephone banking and mailing campaigns are used before resorting to the final option of litigation,” Guevara said.
The lawsuits will be filed at the office of the Cameron County District Clerk in Brownsville at 9:30 a.m.
The taxpayers may pay their delinquent taxes at the Tax Assessor-Collector’s offices located throughout the county, their respective city or school tax office, or at the law office of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP, in Brownsville.
