Delinquent taxpayers list out
There are 71 names on the city’s list of individuals and companies who owe the city unpaid taxes.
There are 71 names on the city’s list of individuals and companies who owe the city unpaid taxes.
Those who square their tax bill by noon next Monday can have their names removed from the list before the it’s published publicly, council was told at its meeting Monday.
Valerie Braga, the city’s director of finance, told council the city is required every year to produce a list of those property owners with outstanding taxes.
Braga noted those on the list would have been notified with five separate letters.
“Each property on this list will be levied an administration fee and will be subject to further collection procedures if the account is not paid within 60 days,” says the administrative report prepared for council.
“Those steps include initial application for title to the property after 12 months and final application for title to the Mediation Board after a further six months.
“If the taxes remain outstanding, the title to the property is transferred to the city and, assuming the city has no use for the property, it is disposed of at fair market value.”
The total amount of taxes and penalties outstanding is $178,499.
The individual amounts owed range from a high of $14,430 to a low of $104.
The vast majority of outstanding bills are in the $1,000 to $5,000 category.
Comments (13)
Up 0 Down 0
I ❤️ Taxes on Feb 1, 2022 at 10:36 am
@Mark: No mercy for the deadbeats? Have you noticed how many palaces the taxpayers have erected for the deadbeats in this city? Give your head a shake. And please tell me you’re not a civil servant, because they don’t pay any taxes, either.
Up 3 Down 4
CJ2 on Jan 31, 2022 at 11:40 am
I think they could lay off the publication of names for the duration of this pandemic, while reminding people that they can make an arrangement.
Not everybody is flourishing. I saw another empty storefront the other day.
Up 4 Down 2
Anie on Jan 31, 2022 at 10:22 am
Joe Thornton - read the article. The list will be published Monday. There is an assumption that grown ups will read their mail (several notices over a period of time) and know that they haven't paid their taxes. Providing notice that a list will be published gives people more time to do something about it. Frankly, the City makes more than a reasonable amount of effort to help people. They can only hand hold so far.
Up 8 Down 13
Joe thorton on Jan 28, 2022 at 2:43 pm
What list? It’s not linked in the article or on the cities website?! How can people see if they’re on it?! This is a brutal news story about a list being a warning that can’t be seen by anyone.
Up 6 Down 3
Charlie's Aunt on Jan 28, 2022 at 12:22 pm
City sends out notice so far in advance that it often gets put on a shelf to pay later and then forgotten. COW has always published the list of defaulters but do they send out a reminder or wait for someone to read their name in paper? Yes, every owner has to pay property tax, either to COW or YT, but we are in exceptional times with Covid restrictions, lay offs & business closures. They are not valid excuses but the payment plan may be an option for some.
Up 22 Down 11
Dallas on Jan 27, 2022 at 9:15 pm
And everyone that does pay their taxes receives jacksh-t for what they do pay.
Up 32 Down 17
Woodcutter on Jan 27, 2022 at 10:21 am
Obviously everyone on the list can't afford to pay their taxes Wilf. Home ownership comes with a price and if you can't afford it, why would you think to purchase it? There is a certain level of financial literacy and means required to owning a home.
Up 21 Down 19
Jeff Bikaboom on Jan 27, 2022 at 8:02 am
"If the taxes remain outstanding, the title to the property is transferred to the city"
The city, a corporation, through self made statutes has given itself the authority to confiscate private property for an unpayed tax that the owner never even agreed to.
What if the person or business is financially crippled because of mandates that they never agreed to? The city will take property that could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars because of an unpayed bill of 1000 dollars.
Why not use a collection agency like other corporations. Why not charge interest on the outstanding bill? Why not stop supplying services to them until they pay. Like snow removal. Oh wait.
This is similar to how the city, a corporation, can prevent you from renewing a drivers licence for an unpayed parking ticket even if you don't live here. A corporation that exists hundreds of km from my home can prevent me from driving.
I am not advocating for skipping out on taxes. I am just saying the punishment is rather harsh. We are in a double state of emergency. God help you if you fall into financial trouble.
Up 33 Down 3
Teemo on Jan 26, 2022 at 6:35 pm
People do realize they can contact the city and set up a repayment plan to make it easier to deal with this bill. They will work with you to come up with a monthly amount that you can handle. As long as you are making the monthly payments as agreed they don’t move forward with the title transfer.
Up 18 Down 34
no wood for you on Jan 26, 2022 at 6:08 pm
So if I am reading this correctly, someone in an auto accident and coma could potentially awake 20 months later to find herself homeless because of an 18 month old tax bill. Honestly, some of you people need to learn the meaning of "mercy". This is pitiful, pathetic and sad.
Up 21 Down 22
Mark on Jan 26, 2022 at 5:36 pm
@Wilf Carter. Finally the City does something about these losers. Embarrass them . They did it to themselves. Nobody likes paying bills but we all do it.
You can’t afford taxes? Then you can’t afford your place. Sell and rent, do what you gotta do. No mercy for deadbeats.
Up 17 Down 7
Wil on Jan 26, 2022 at 4:37 pm
Wilf, you have to own property in the city to pay taxes here.
You’re a renter, you wouldn’t pay municipal taxes.
Up 60 Down 47
Wilf Carter on Jan 26, 2022 at 2:57 pm
How many on the list can't afford to pay their taxes especially senior or unemployed or disabled.