VIDALIA, La. – Government agencies in Concordia Parish should soon receive checks totalling more than $2.4 million in year 2000 tax revenues from bankrupt Fruit of the Loom, said Sheriff and Tax Collector Randy Maxwell.

&uot;They paid their 2000 taxes on time, just like any other parish industry,&uot;&160;Maxwell said Friday regarding the payment, which totalled $2,441,645. &uot;The checks went out (Thursday).&uot;

The agreement to which Maxwell is referring is a settlement finalized in November between Fruit of the Loom, the parish’s largest manufacturer, and parish government.

Under the agreement, the company – which owed $2,263,664 in 1999 taxes, penalties and interest to the parish – paid about one-third of that amount, according to parish officials.

Fruit of the Loom, which declared bankruptcy in December 1999, also promised to pay 2000 taxes on time. &uot;And they lived up to their agreement,&uot; Maxwell said.

&uot;It will help us – to do projects we couldn’t do last year,&uot; said parish school Superintendent Lester &uot;Pete&uot; Peterman, whose district will receive $1,057,985 from Fruit of the Loom tax revenues for 2000.

That includes $339,516 for school construction projects. &uot;We didn’t include that (money)&160;in our budget. It was a tough year last year, and I’m glad to hear we’re getting the whole amount this year.

&uot;We haven’t seen what the total revenues from the other tax source are yet, so I don’t know how that will stack up against the budget,&uot; he said.

According to Sheriff’s Office figures, 2000 taxes paid to individual government agencies also included the following amounts:

$565,164 to the Concordia Parish Police Jury.

$535,391 to the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

$104,467 to Recreation District No. 3, which serves the Vidalia area.

$100,810 in levee taxes.

$77,828 to the Assessment District.