Writing off $1,195 in uncollected property taxes is equivalent to a spit in the bucket for the city, council heard at its Tuesday night meeting.

Rob Fendrick, the city's director of corporate services, pointed out to council the city collects $39 million a year in property taxes and utility payments.

At any one time, it's dealing with $6 million in accounts receivable, he said.

If property owners can't be found, he said, there's not much recourse but to write off the debt.

"In all cases, our attempts to collect have been exhausted,” he said of the three outstanding accounts.

Overall, Fendrick told council, having to write off just $1,195 speaks well for the city's efforts in collecting unpaid taxes.

The debt was left by three individuals who owed taxes on their trailers, council was told.

The trailers have been removed and replaced with new ones, and the previous owners – Jonathan Edward Olsen, Mary Ada Joe and Cameron Semple – cannot be located.

Olsen owes $638 and change, Joe $314 and Semple $243.

First reading of the required bylaw to write off the debt is scheduled to come forward next Monday night.

Fendrick said the accounts have been sent to a collection agency.

If the agency is ever successful in collecting the money, it's obligated to split it with the city.