During the past 18 months, the city has accelerated its effort to collect unpaid property taxes and to foreclose on properties when its owners have shown no interest or ability to pay the city what they owe.
During that time, the city has collected a whopping $2.1 million.
In addition, the city has foreclosed on three substantial properties and have already sold one. When the remaining two are auctioned, the city should collect at least an additional $1.3 million.
“Everyone must pay their taxes. There can be no exceptions,” said Mayor Carlo DeMaria.
DeMaria said that this effort was not exclusively about getting the tax arrearage at the expense of those who are hurting because of the economy.
“Everyone in this administration involved in collecting taxes, from the treasurer to the solicitor, to the assessor has been instructed to aid those who were sold mortgages they cannot pay by predatory lenders. They have assisted many homeowners and residents with their difficulties,” said the mayor.
The mayor pointed out that some property owners recently contacted in the collection sweep up had not paid property taxes in 20 years.
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This is "BULL SHIT" I just recieved a notice that I owe property tax back in 2003 and they are just telling me NOW after all these yrs! I've been paying on time for the past 8 yrs..without notifing me.and they tell me now that I owe money and want 4,000 thousand dollars in iterest is BULL SHIT! This cannot be legal! I have great credit and never missed a payment. But even if I did by mistake You don't wait 8 YRS to notify you! And they have a lien on my property! MR MAYOR I'll be calling you about this! This is just wrong! For all you honest people out there like myself we must fight this together..So call the MAYOR!