Fort Wright city council passed two ordinances during a meeting Wednesday to give the city more leverage over delinquent taxpayers. Individuals and organizations that fail to pay their city property taxes will now face consequences prior to foreclosure.
Both ordinances intend to disrupt an organization’s operations if it does not pay its property taxes, according to Mayor Dave Hatter.
“Thankfully, we don’t have a lot of these issues,” Hatter said at Wednesday’s meeting.
Council drafted the ordinances after Lookout Heights Civic Club, a local neighborhood group that rents their function hall for graduation and other events, failed to pay their city property taxes while in litigation over the past year.
“It’s a moot point now,” Hatter said, as Lookout Heights paid their $20,000 in delinquent taxes within the last week.
However, Hatter and the city council thought the issue exposed an incentive issue in the city’s ability to collect taxes.
“We realized that without this kind of leverage, aside from foreclosure, delinquent taxpayers have no incentive to pay,” Hatter said.
One ordinance allows the city to hold any administrative procedures, like permits, until an individual or organization is up to date on their taxes. The other allows the city to revoke a local liquor license until the taxes are paid.
“This is just another tool in our toolbelt to try to get taxes paid,” City Attorney Timothy Theissen said.
“I just want to remind folks, taxes are what makes all of this possible,” Hatter said.
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