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Property Tax Collections Lagging in WilliamstownBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
11:32PM / Monday, June 22, 2009
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The amount of outstanding property and personal tax payments due the town is three times that of last year, indicating residents may be feeling the stress of the global recession.
Town Manager Peter Fohlin reported to the Selectmen on Monday night that more property owners are behind in paying their tax bills mailed out May 1, with $263,000 outstanding compared to $88,000 last year.
"The goal here would be to get the number as low as possible through collection efforts by June 30," said Fohlin. "Otherwise it has a negative effect on our free cash for the coming year."
The delinquency rate is 2 percent compared to a half percent last year, with some 145 bills outstanding, the bulk by private property owners. Selectwoman Jane Allen asked how it would affect free cash and the town's budget.
Fohlin said it was unlikely the amount would remain that high by the end of June when the fiscal year ends. "The taxpayers of Williamstown are very good about paying their taxes by a period of time ... There may be some at the end of June."
However, the free cash account, which is used to help reduce the tax rate, is also filled by a number of other factors, such as unspent appropriations, unexpected revenues and other funding. If, perchance, there was a shortage in the account, it would have to be made up in next year's tax rate, said Fohlin.
The town also lost $390,000 in state aid for the coming year, based on the budget passed by the Legislature on Friday. Fohlin said, however, that the 2010 budget passed last month took into account the loss from the estimated $2.3 million in annual state aid. The town used the Senate's version of the budget — the worst-case scenario — as the basis for its calculations.
The public works, police and nonunion employees will not get raises this year to offset the loss of funding.
The town manager did offer the board something to chew on: Proposals for student fees being mulled by some New England municipal leaders. Boston City Councilor Stephen Murphy is proposing a $100 per semester fee that could raise $16 million annually for Boston; Providence (R.I.) Mayor David N. Cicilline is proposing a $150 "student impact fee."
A $100 per student semester fee would net the town $400,000, although it's not something the town could just do; it would have to get the Legislature to gain the authority to impose any taxes.
In other business:
■ The board approved a letter drafted by Chairman Thomas Costley in support of Church Corners LLC gaining a state 40B permitting, which will allow the nonprofit organization to fast track its affordable housing plans for the former St. Raphael's Church.
■ Endorsed a resolution in support of expanding the state's bottle bill to noncarbonated beverages.
■ Confirmed the town manager's reappointment of Sarah Gardner and Thomas Ennis to the Conservation Commission.
■ Reappointed Juliana Haubrich to the Northern Berkshire Cultural Council; Lawrence Wright as an associate to the Zoning Board of Appeals; Paul Giamborino, Paul Yarter and Joseph Zoito as constables; and Charles Bonenti, Cathy Yamamoto and Carolyn Henderson to the Affordable Housing Committee.
■ Accepted proof of TIPS training by staff at the Red Herring. The restaurant had earned the ire of the board for failing to provide the proof by the deadline set by the board.
Allen reminded residents who expressed unhappiness with their Verizon service that the Division of Telecommunications and Cable will be holding a public hearing on the matter on Tuesday, June 30, at Berkshire Community College. |
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary. Comments are closed for this article. If you would like to contribute information on this article, e-mail us at info@iBerkshires.com |
$100 bucks a semester for public school? I have a feeling that this would require a change to the constitution, not just the law.
Editor: Didn't say public school; the focus is on colleges. Nor is there an obligation for the state to provide (free) public schooling beyond high school, just the opportunity. | | from: anon | on: 06-23-2009 12:00AM
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