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Council reinstates three properties to Neighborhood Revitalization Program after first‑time delinquencies
Summary
Augusta City Council voted to reinstate three properties into the 2023 Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) after staff confirmed each was a first delinquency; owners forfeited that year's rebate but may requalify going forward.
The Augusta City Council on March 3 voted to reinstate three properties into the city’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) after staff said each case was a first‑time delinquency under the 2023 plan’s discretionary reinstatement process.
Staff explained that the 2023 NRP plan differs from earlier plans by allowing the governing body to review reinstatement requests on a case‑by‑case basis rather than automatically reinstating properties after a single delinquency. The three properties before council were 529 North State Street (M and J’s Coffee House), 233 East Main Street, and 418 State Street.
For 529 North State, staff said the owner’s first half 2024 taxes were delinquent but paid; staff received a reinstatement request and on Feb. 10 the delinquent taxes were paid in full. A council member moved to reinstate 529 North State “due to this being their first delinquency,” and council unanimously approved the motion. Staff noted that property owners forfeited the rebate for that year and would need to wait until the next applicable period to receive any rebate.
For 233 East Main, staff said the property entered the NRP in April 2024 and paid the December 2024 delinquent taxes on Dec. 27; it was treated similarly and was reinstated.
For 418 State, staff said the timeline was more ambiguous and involved confusion about whether the property had been formally enrolled earlier; the owner (Jeff Brown) told the council the delinquency stemmed from a construction loan and escrow timing, and that he has completed arrangements to escrow taxes going forward. Council treated 418 State as a first delinquency and reinstated it as well. One council member recused from the NRP discussion at the start of the item.
Council voted separately on each property and approved all three reinstatements; staff reiterated that the rebate for the year in which the taxes became delinquent is forfeited even if reinstated. Council asked staff to include reinstatement reasoning in future motions to assist staff reporting.
