• Inquiry made after tax statement brought to newspaper.

By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

All members of the Whiteville City Council have paid their property taxes for last year, a review of tax records shows.

The records were examined after this newspaper received a copy of a statement of taxes due on city letterhead. The form showed councilman Tim Blackman owing $1,346.86 in property taxes dating back to 1999 on the property located at 516 S. Martin Luther King, on the city’s west side.

Blackman only recently began receiving tax notices for the property, which was part of his late father’s estate.

From 1999 until 2006, tax notices on the property were sent to Retha Mae Davis, who lived at the address.

Blackman said his late father apparently gave Davis lifetime rights to the property. After she entered a nursing home, Blackman said, Davis’ family was supposed to make the payments preparatory to buying the property.

“It just didn’t happen,” Blackman said. “We couldn’t work it out. When I found out the taxes were long overdue, we paid them immediately.”

A property record card in the county tax files shows Blackman as the owner of record of the property, which was transferred from his father in 1992. Davis is listed in the owner’s slot under the legal description of the property.

Blackman said he paid over $3,000 in back taxes, penalties and interest to the county for the property.

“I hope this is a lesson to everyone,” he said. “If you have a piece of property, keep up with it. Neglecting to keep track of things can get expensive.”