The number of properties in tax arrears is higher than average this year.
On Feb. 17, the Review reported that nearly $200,000 is owed in unpaid property taxes from 2016.
“This year, it is a very large number of properties as compared to other years,” said Michelle Sorensen, the administrator’s assistant, during the March 13 council meeting.
The town must follow a legislated process to collect the unpaid taxes. If the property owner does not make payments, the town may eventually take possession of the property, but this occurs infrequently.
“The properties that we do take title to, we’re obliged to put them on the market to sell them, and when they do sell, then of course we recover all of our costs at that point and any funds that are remaining we send to the previous property owner,” said Barry Elliott, the town’s administrator.
