Brazos County tax office did NOT text messages to property owners

This podcast is a visit with Brazos County tax assessor-collector Melissa Leonard and WTAW's Bill Oliver.Employees at the Brazos County tax office fielded phone calls Wednesday (March 18) from property owners who say they have received text messages that tax assessor-collector Melissa Leonard says they did not send.The text message refers to an upcoming auction of properties with delinquent taxes, something that Leonard says is not scheduled at this time.Leonard says most of the calls they received came from people who owe back taxes.She says those who owe 2025 taxes can pay them at the tax office. Paying delinquent taxes from 2024 and before should be arranged through the law firm the county hired to collect older back taxes.Leonard said the tax office does not have residents phone numbers or e-mail addresses and could not send text messages.News release from Brazos County:Brazos County Tax Assessor/Collector Melissa Leonard says the tax office has received numerous calls this morning from concerned tax payers who have received text messages stating they owe back taxes and their homes are up for auction.The tax office HAS NOT sent these messages, does not have residents phone numbers or email addresses and COULD NOT send these messages.Please let the public know this is NOT coming from the Brazos County Tax Office.