Pittsfield Selling Back Tax Liens; Installing Online Permitting Software

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
04:50AM / Sunday, February 22, 2015Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is looking to sell some $10 million in tax liens.

In the spring, the city is planning to auction off bundles of tax title liens — giving a private firm control of collections and ultimately property takings.

"We will sell the lien, essentially, and the right to collect to a company that specializes in this and has resources to do this," said Mayor Daniel Bianchi said.

"Right now we have $10 million in uncollected property taxes. Other communities — Worcester, Springfield — have done this. It is a way for a community to collect the equivalent of back taxes."

Instead of going through the lengthy tax title process, the city will essentially sell the debt owed to it to investors.

"This is not to punish anyone. These are taxes that are owed," Bianchi said. "We have some liens that are 20 years old."

According to City Attorney Darren Lee, the auction in the spring will feature titles from all wards in the city. Liens are put on properties that are more than one year past due in taxes.

"Once an account is in tax title, the taxpayers are responsible for 16 percent interest on the principal balance of the account," Lee wrote in a statement.

The city is currently out to bid for a company to manage the auction. A pre-auction meeting to review the proposed properties is expected to be held for investors and public meetings are expected for property owners.

In other business last week, the City Council approved purchasing $307,000 worth of new software. The city will spend the next two to three months installing $110,000 worth of online permitting software.

"We're going to roll it out a little at a time. We're going to start with the building inspectors, they generate the most permits. Then we'll get into other things like special events," Bianchi said.

"People will be able to do a lot more, if not everything, online. But that is not to say that they won't have to visit the municipal office but it should cut it down significantly."

Concurrently, the city will be installing $197,000 worth of new computer-assisted mass appraisal software for the assessor's office. Those programs are eyed to ease the assessment process.

Tags: delinquent taxes, property taxes, tax auction,

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Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action.

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature."

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures.

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis.

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.

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