Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the City of Jefferson City Council will be held on March 16, 2021 at 305 E. Austin St, Jefferson, Texas for the purpose of considering and taking action on all matters on the agenda for the meeting, including approval of an agreement with the law firm of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP as special counsel to perform all legal services necessary to collect delinquent property taxes and authorizing the execution of such agreement.
The agreement to be considered is necessary for the delinquent taxes owed to the City of Jefferson to be collected in the most effective manner. The City of Jefferson desires that such delinquent tax, penalties and interest be collected as provided in the Texas Tax Code.
The Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP firm is fully qualified to provide this representation, being the largest delinquent tax collection law firm in the State of Texas, as well as the United States and having been engaged in this specialized legal service for more than 40 years. In addition, the Linebarger Goggan Blair and Sampson, LLP firm possesses infrastructure and technology, such as call center technology, that the County does not currently possess.
The specialized legal services required by this agreement cannot be adequately performed by the attorneys and supporting personnel of the County due to the high cost of implementing the appropriate infrastructure and technology and employing sufficient in- house attorneys and staff with the level of experience and competence necessary to perform these activities.
Linebarger will be compensated on a contingent fee basis as provided in the Texas Tax Code Sections 6.30, 33.07, 33.08, 33.11, and 33.48. These Texas Tax Code sections specifically provide for an additional penalty on delinquent taxes to compensate collection attorneys. A contract to pay inside or outside attorneys on an hourly basis would represent an additional cost to the City of Jefferson.
Entering into the proposed agreement is in the best interests of the residents of the City of Jefferson because the delinquent taxes will be professionally and competently collected without the additional costs to the City of Jefferson of implementing infrastructure and technology, and employing in-house personnel or paying outside counsel on an hourly fee basis which would otherwise be required.