Regarding the "Tax Cheats" blurb at http://www.alexandriagazette.com/news/2019/nov/15/alexandria-council-notebook/ , I wanted to clarify the context based on complaints we've received.
The small dollar write-offs only amount to $17,640, averaging $5.68 from each of 3,105 accounts. For perspective, this is 0.0035% of City tax collections. As the docket item explained, this is a common practice for Virginia localities under state law. The law does not require publication of names in newspapers, and that's not a cost-effective strategy given the expense of traditional advertising.
Our collection rate for 2014-2018 has been 99.7%, which reflects the use of a broad array of collection tools including:
Delinquent letters
Telephone calls
DMV registration holds
State Set-Off Debt Income Tax seizures
Boots and tows (beginning in FY20, use of orange levy stickers)
Bank liens
Wage liens
Placement with collection agencies (at no cost to the City)
Payment plans
Judgments, other legal action
Craig T. Fifer, MPA
Director
Office of Communications & Public Information
City of Alexandria, Virginia