Small claims lawsuits seek to collect occupational tax funds

The Whitley County Fiscal Court has collected more than $5,000 in delinquent occupational tax funds thanks to a series of recent small claims lawsuits.

Whitley County Fiscal Court Occupational Tax Administrator David Owens filed 16 small claims lawsuits in September in Whitley District Court.

Most of the lawsuits involve delinquent 2015 occupational tax fees that were due by Feb. 28, 2016. A handful of other cases involved net profit license fees.

According to an Oct. 4 Whitley District Court docket, 13 of the lawsuits were dismissed because the delinquent taxes were paid in full.

The county was awarded a $503.30 judgment in another case plus $42.42 in court costs.

Hearings in cases involving two other lawsuits were postponed until Nov. 22.