Yesterday the city shut off water service to 40 customers – the first of 900 – who have not responded to numerous letters that they have failed to pay their bill, which in some cases goes back 12 …
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Yesterday the city shut off water service to 40 customers – the first of 900 – who have not responded to numerous letters that they have failed to pay their bill, which in some cases goes back 12 years.
“It’s a soft start,” said City Tax Collector Kyla Jones, who has coordinated the shutoff plan with deputy tax collector William Miranda.
According to Courtney Marciano, spokeswoman for Mayor Scott Avedisian, the city is starting with a “staggered” plan with 40 shutoffs conducted on Monday to be followed with an equal amount on Wednesday and a similar batch on Friday.
Marciano said the city made a concerted effort to collect delinquent water payments that totaled $3.9 million as of the end of March. By the end of April that total was reduced to $2.2 million, she said.
“They made a good dent in it,” she said of the city’s collection efforts.
Marciano said the city is sensitive to the needs of customers and businesses that are being shut off and that water division personnel will restore service provided they have made payment in full, plus a $100 fee by 4:30 p.m. of the day of shutoff. She said that on Friday, shutoffs would be done in the morning to allow people to make payments so that they could have their water restored for the weekend.
On another issue of delinquencies, about 400 property owners can expect to see their names listed in Thursday’s Beacon for not having made any payment on this fiscal year’s real estate taxes in preparation for a tax sale on May 26. Jones knows from experience fewer properties will end up in the sale as property owners and financial institutions with mortgages will either step forward to make payment or work out a payment plan to avoid the sale.
Jones said the city has seen progress in collecting on utility payments as the list of delinquents was as high as 2,400 more than a year ago. At that time warnings were issued that people could face having their water shut off unless they took action. That resulted in a flood of payments, although there was a lingering group plus a new crop of delinquents. Shutoffs were not carried out, however, with the onset of colder weather and a moratorium on utility shutoffs during the winter months. Now that warmer weather is here, the moratorium has expired and the city is proceeding with water shutoffs.
As for the real estate tax sale, Jones anticipates many of the property owners hold mortgages with Rhode Island Housing and she assures “they won’t let them go to a tax sale.” Banks, she said, are likewise to pay the back taxes to avoid having properties they hold mortgages on from going to sale.
In addition, from experience, some property owners, looking to avoid having their names published will make payment today or tomorrow morning. By Wednesday afternoon it will be too late to have the listing pulled from the Thursday Beacon.
Delinquents on paying taxes are too late to avoid a $200 fee for a title search of the property and compilation of the tax sale list.
Jones didn’t have a total on the outstanding taxes due. Most of the delinquents have failed to pay either the first or second quarterly payment, meaning they will soon approach slipping behind by a year.
Meanwhile, Jones said some property owners who have had difficulty in the past have worked out payment plans.
“It’s less than 100, it’s really looking good,” she said.
Overall, Jones said real estate tax delinquencies are comparable to last year, maybe better.
“I think people are finally digging out of debt,” she said.
Jones thinks the economy has improved, although from delinquent tax and utility payments it’s apparent some are still finding it difficult.
Jones noted that while shutoffs may seem like a harsh measure, water and sewer service is no different than other utilities.
“If you don’t pay your cable bill, you get shut off,” she said.
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richardcorrente
During my campaign as the endorsed Democrat for Mayor, we noticed that there were over one thousand people who owed over a thousand dollars EACH on their water bills. I noticed that many of these people had Avedisian signs on their front lawn and especially on their businesses even though it hurt their businesses by limiting their customers. It was like advertising "Republicans only. Democrats stay out!" Why would anyone do that? Do the math. Let the Mayor have a sign or pay your water bill.
For the record, as Mayor I would send shut off notices to anyone who owed a back balance, just like Kent County Water does in West Warwick; just like former Mayor Lincoln Chaffee did when he was in office. As Mayor we would NOT have a thousand people getting off easy while the rest of us have to pay on time. So if you are reading this and the Mayor is letting you "slide", better make sure you vote for him.
'Cause I won't. I am watching out for the Warwick Taxpayers and 2018 is around the corner.
Happy Summer everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Tuesday, May 2, 2017 Report this
Scal1024
Rick, if 2 years, hundreds of signs and over $30,000 couldn't do it. Why would 2018 be any different?
People weren't buying a "cut taxes" platform from a guy who failed to pay his own taxes.
They didn't buy "cut spending" from a candidate who couldn't name one line item he would cut.
Your comment about "republicans only" is foolish and quite frankly stupid.
I have to ask Rick, where did you keep your Avedesian for mayor sign? Your delinquent taxes suggest you must have known somebody in city government to get such special treatment. The hard working tax payers deserve a mayor who actually pays taxes on time. Not some pandering ill informed candidate who regurgitates the same talking points over and over. 2 years wasn't enough time for your campaign Rick, and 4 years isn't going to be any better.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017 Report this
Toriann
I find the practice of publicizing names of people who owe the city for water completely degrading and unnecessary. It is completely uncompassionate to embarrass homeowners who may be struggling with employment, medical, or other issues. Shame on all of you who lack humility.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017 Report this
Thecaptain
Rick,
You are a freakin' idiot with mental issues. Either you either enjoy being abused by the facts or you are simply mentally incompetent. Your overdue property taxes during the time that you spent as a squatter for more than 2 years at 177 Grand View that you lost to tax sale and foreclosure amounted to $8080.41. You never paid these bills although you lived on the property. This bill was paid by Redstick Aquasitions on 4/20/2017. Your utility bill for your water usage during the time that you squatted on the premises while your home was in foreclosure was also paid by Redstick. You lived there tax free, used water to wash your ass, and never paid the bill. Now you have the balls to make statement that "IF you were the mayor (not a chance in hell) that you would send shut off notices? To who? Yourself?? You don't even have the integrity to pay your bills and you think that you have political aspirations? Get help.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017 Report this
Kammy
I am completely baffled by the assertion that an Avedisian sign keeps the taxes away. Tell me Mr. Corrente, did you research each Avedisian sign property owner to verify that they were indeed late on their payment? I am dumbfounded at your continued attacks on the Mayor, all of which are backed up by "alternative facts" and a big thumb pointed at your chest saying you would do a better job. Also, one of the reasons why Avedisian has been in office so long is that even though he is a registered Republican, he still works with the Democrats. Something I wish Washington would start doing to end all the contentious standoffs.
The fact is that "numerous notices" have gone out to those delinquent with no response. What would you have them do? Continue to send notices? Sometimes it takes a drastic measure in order to get people to fulfill their responsibilities. That is why I am not opposed to the public notification. If you and I are paying our bills, why shouldn't they? If they have hardship then they had ample opportunity to seek assistance. The city is willing to work out payment plans. So what is the obstacle in paying your bill?
Wednesday, May 3, 2017 Report this
CrickeeRaven
Hello Scal1024 and Thecaptain:
As the commenter who originally uncovered the losing mayoral candidate's residence in a home that he does not own, I'd like to thank both of you for keeping up the pressure and digging further into the defeated candidate's delinquencies, not only as a taxpayer but as a person. He can not and will not admit to his lies and failures, he repeats the same disproven and rejected talking points, he terms himself "mayor" after losing the election, he continues to use honor roll articles to rant about teacher contracts, and then goes completely silent when confronted on any of this.
And at the risk of speaking for the two of you, I think we can agree that we would have a "happy summer" if the rejected candidate would stop these antics and just go away.
Thank you again for joining me and the thousands of Warwick residents who reject the losing candidate's continued attempts to mislead readers of this site.
Thursday, May 4, 2017 Report this