Mount Vernon extends owner-occupied tax interest amnesty; council asks staff to study commercial option

The Mount Vernon Board of Estimate and Contract on Thursday approved an ordinance extending and modifying the city's tax interest amnesty program for qualified owner-occupied residential properties.

The ordinance replicates prior amnesty programs and was adopted by roll-call votes of aye from Comptroller Morton, Council President Brown and Mayor Patterson Howard. Officials said the program applies only to owner-occupied residential properties and does not include commercial properties under the current ordinance.

“At last night’s council meeting, we had a conversation on the floor about the appetite for an amnesty program for commercial properties,” a council member said during discussion, and the council asked staff to develop a proposal. The board directed staff to perform a rapid review and analysis of a commercial amnesty option and return to the council quickly, noting the need to meet the tax-lien calendar and potentially call a special meeting.

City staff stated that the funding or timeline constraints require a quick turnaround and that any proposal would be provided to the council by Monday if possible to meet calendar constraints. The board did not adopt a commercial amnesty ordinance at this meeting; officials said the council expressed willingness in principle but requested a staff recommendation on structure and forgiveness levels.

The ordinance as approved covers owner-occupied residential property owners who meet the program qualifications; the transcript records no change in eligibility criteria for residential properties during the vote. No dollar amounts or forgiveness percentages were specified during the meeting.