Tax Items Top Agenda Monday

Most of the items offered for Monday's agenda have to do with tax collection, even the lone ordinance, which sets a fee for calculation a redemption amount for tax lien holders.

The city's collection rate as noted in May 2013 was only 94.07 percent. Tax collector David Marshall called it embarrassing and said it should be more like 96 or 97 percent. When property owners don't pay their taxes, the city can hold tax lien sales to recoup the money. We have all seen those whopping lists of names and amounts owed that pop up in the classified section, to the chagrin of the tardy taxpayer.

The tax collector may charge up to 8 percent per year on the first $1,500 of a delinquency and then up to 18 percent per year on any amount over that. In a tax lien sale, the lien purchaser pays the city the amount owed and the property owner is then in debt to that individual, who may move to foreclose after a certain period if not repaid.

If I read the resolution correctly, the tax collector is seeking permission to replace publication with notices to the property owner and anyone else entitled to notice of foreclosure, at $25 per notice. Perhaps David Marshall will explain it further on Monday.

I forgot to add that the resolution calls for an additional 6 percent  penalty on any delinquency in excess of $10,000. There is more legal language involved, so if you are a super-delinquent, be sure to look it up.

With few ratables other than housing, Plainfield needs the highest compliance possible in paying property taxes. Times have been hard lately, but paying taxes is vital to city operations. Marshall may have more to say on strategies to improve the rate and avoid having too many city-owned properties for lack of tax payment.

The meeting Monday is 7:30 p.m. in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.

--Bernice

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