Farmington board approves offset policy for properties with delinquent taxes and utility balances

FARMINGTON — Voters approved a new policy Tuesday night to help collect delinquent taxes or utility payments.

“This is something you can implement if we have vendors that we pay for services and they have outstanding personal property taxes and property taxes,” said Treasury Secretary Tammy Bureau. “We can keep the check and apply it to their taxes. “If the check was over and above what was owed, we would pay the taxes, send a receipt with the after-tax difference, and a letter explaining what we had done.”

The bureau said it was state law. He wasn’t sure how many vendors there were in Farmington or the number of people with personal property accounts. “Personal property is the hardest thing to collect,” he said. You can take them to court, spend the money, get the verdict. Good luck getting the money. “You can’t put a lien on it.”

Chairman Joshua Bell asked if the policy could be used for someone renewing their liquor license.

The Bureau felt that this policy was strictly intended to compensate someone for their services. He said the Lewiston clerk (where the Bureau once operated) used something similar for licenses. “They would have a list of these accounts and let us know if there was a license that was due. We could send them a letter and let them know the license would not be renewed unless those taxes were paid.”

Lewiston also flags the vehicle registrations of those who make a habit of not paying their taxes, the bureau said.

Town Manager Erica LaCroix said only the excise tax portion of a vehicle registration can be denied.

“True, but if we reject the excise tax, they cannot register their vehicles because you cannot register your vehicle without going to your home city to pay the excise tax,” the bureau said. He said the TRIO software (used in many municipalities) has a feature that tells the vehicle owner when they owe taxes not to register the vehicle until the taxes are paid or a payment plan is made.

LaCroix said a similar policy is in place for business permit renewals in Winslow. Winslow had to pass a special policy for this; He wasn’t sure if it was a state law or if a municipality could decide it. “I think it would fall under the same scope of the liquor license,” he said. “I don’t see why it wouldn’t happen.”

The office said it would contact its contacts in Lewiston to inquire about applicable state laws.

It was stated that the town’s prosecutor is reviewing this policy.

Under state legislation, any municipality may withhold payment of money due to any taxpayer whose taxes are not paid in whole or in part by an amount not exceeding the unpaid taxes plus interest and expenses. The law states that the tax collector’s rights will not be affected by any appointment or receivership process.

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