
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, July 14, 1995                   TAG: 9507140050
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY  
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Short

LAWYER MAKES QUICK WORK OF TAX ROUNDUP

It didn't take attorney Paul Barnett long to rustle up more than $76,500 in delinquent city real estate taxes plus more than $5,500 in fees and costs associated with collecting them - about 51/2 billable hours in all, in lawyer's terms.

Barnett has been working with City Attorney John "Bunny" Spiers as part of an aggressive effort to make tax deadbeats pay up or have their property sold at auction.

Barnett's most recent efforts paid off in 29 cases involving individual and business landowners. Two other cases are pending.

His bill to the city was $427.50.

In his most recent periodic report to Spiers and to City Council this week, Barnett reported collecting two delinquent accounts that totaled over $11,000 apiece.

Memo: correct version of story ran on July 15, 1995 in Current

by CNB