Contact Information

Gene Anderson, Finance Director
903-784-9241


Melba Harris, Human Resources                         903-784-9272

Accounts Payable                                                  903-784-9288
Divisions The Finance Department is divided into three divisions:
1. Accounting and Auditing
2. Warehouse
3. Utility and Billing Collection

The Finance Director is the administrative officer over these divisions, which provide a wide range of services to the public, and internally to the City organization.

Property Taxes

 The City of Paris has contracted with the Lamar County Appraisal District to assess and collect its property taxes. This process involves determining the value of all property, sending out tax statements, and actual collection of tax revenue. Any questions related to value, taxability, billing, collection, property ownership, or other property tax issues should be directed to the Lamar County Appraisal District.

The phone number for the Appraisal District is 903-785-7822, and the office is located at 521 Bonham Street.

The City's responsibility in this area includes setting the tax rate by the City Council and calculating the effective & roll back tax rates by the Finance Director.

Questions on these issues may be directed to the Finance Director at 903-784-9241.

Accounting / Auditing

Employees of this department are responsible for the overall fiscal activities and daily financial operations of City government.  This involves maintenance of accounting records including the general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, budgetary control, cash and debt management, purchase requisitions, and utility billing.  Personnel are also responsible for internal audits, financial reporting, and tax assessment (but not property appraisal or property tax collection which are duties of the Lamar County Appraisal District.)  All personnel functions including job applications, employee benefits, and worker’s compensation insurance are performed within this department.  The City, through the efforts of the this division, has received the highly coveted Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the past eight years from the Government Finance Officers Association.

Warehouse

The Warehouse Division activities include purchasing, storing, and distributing materials, supplies and tools used by various City departments and divisions. Daily management is provided through the Purchasing Agent who also maintains a perpetual inventory system and partially processes invoices for payment. 

Utility Billing and Collection

Employees of this division maintain all water, sewer, sanitation, and related prorate accounts.  Included in this activity is meter reading, meter rereads, account billing, account collection, service initiation, service transfer, and service termination.  An Office Manager provides daily management for the services provided to nearly 10,000 households each month.  Please review the page of Frequently Asked Questions for more information about receiving service from this division.