Aug. 16, 2001, 4:35PM

TX - 12,000 Harris County taxpayers due refunds Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle

Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt mailed postcards today to about 12,000 taxpayers entitled to refunds after overpaying about $5.8 million in 2001 property taxes.

Anyone who overpaid by $15 or more will be getting the notice, Bettencourt said.

In the past, some taxing entities have opted to keep such overpayments, but a change in state law has local officials being more aggressive about finding and reimbursing taxpayers who overpaid.

Next year, the law will require such notices to go out to taxpayers who overpaid by $5 or more.

The average refund in the most recent mailing is $483. One taxpayer is owed $83,098.

"We've got the money in the bank," Bettencourt said. "Come get it. It's yours."

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.hts/metropolitan/1010276

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2001