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

DATE: SATURDAY, July 15, 1995                   TAG: 9507170037
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RADFORD                                 LENGTH: Short

LAWYER MAKES QUICK WORK OF SNARING DELINQUENT TAXES

Several paragraphs of the following story were transposed in Friday's paper. The story appears again here in its entirety.

It didn't take lawyer 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. All told, it took only 5 1/2 billable hours - in lawyers 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.

In his most recent periodic report to Spiers and to City Council, Barnett reported collecting two delinquent accounts that totaled more than $11,000 apiece. Another property was sold at auction for $700.

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.

by CNB