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Residents tell Essex Junction council late-tax notices linked to mail delays; councilors and staff clarify options
Summary
Residents raised concerns at the Sept. 24 meeting about property tax payments being marked late when mailed; they urged the council to restore acceptance of postmarked payments and identified drop-box and in-person payment as alternatives but said mail delays and banking timelines can complicate timely payment.
Several residents told the Essex Junction City Council on Sept. 24 that mailed tax payments that arrive after the due date — despite being postmarked earlier — exposed them to late notices and fees, and they urged the city to reconsider a practice of not accepting postmarked mail as proof of timely payment.
“My name is Joe Cutterley. I've lived in the village and now city of Essex Junction for 18 years,” said resident Joe Cutterley during public comment. Cutterley said he mailed his city taxes on Sept. 6 but the payment did not arrive at city offices until Sept. 16 or 17 and that he received a late notice and a $250 fee. He said the town previously accepted postmarks as proof of timely payment and urged the council to “move back to not, accepting things that are postmarked.”
Council members and staff clarified available payment options and causes of delay. A staff member pointed out the city’s outside drop box is available 24/7. Resident Risa said she also received her tax bill later than others and described relying on online banking; she said banks’ timelines and postal reliability complicate timely mailed payments.
Council member Elaine corrected a factual point about a previously mentioned late-fee case: she said GlobalFoundries’ late fee stemmed from a late payment for different reasons, not from writing “Village of Essex Junction” on a check. Council members emphasized they would not assess late fees arbitrarily for a misspelling.
Elected officials and staff reminded residents that in-person payment and the municipal drop box are options and that some banks might reimburse late fees if the delay was their error, though that can vary by institution. No council action or ordinance change was proposed or taken on Sept. 24; the conversation was limited to public comment and clarifying staff remarks.
Why it matters: Mail and banking processing times can affect residents who rely on mailed payments; council and staff comments indicate the city accepts multiple payment methods and that any change to formalizing acceptance of postmarks would require council consideration.
