If death and taxes are the only things that are certain in life, here's something that's 99% certain: If you are a public official and you don't pay your taxes, people will point at you and laugh. 

And so it is for Lubbock City Councilman Victor Hernandez.

Hernandez failed to pay $11,000 in property taxes on a commercial building he owns, KCBD-TV Channel 11 reports. The station says it pointed out his delinquency more than a year ago, before he was elected to the council.

(City officials in Houston have faced the same problem. Texas Watchdog reported in 2009 that three sitting councilmembers had outstanding property tax bills and owed a collective $9,000 in taxes, penalties and interest.) 

The station reported last night that it had learned that Hernandez had indeed paid up all his taxes -- but the city concil is still on track to toss him out of office as of this morning.

The station also says Lubbock Assistant City Manager Quincy White paid his taxes yesterday morning. The due date was Jan. 31. 

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